1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Before we get started today, I am not going to say that women cannot dress nicely or put on makeup or wear jewelry. All of this can be done with balance and modesty. With that said...ladies, if a man only sees what is on the outside and judges you on that basis, do yourself a favor and move on. Oh, and that would be for the single women. I want to remind us all today that you can decorate yourself as bright as a Christmas tree, and God will see through all of that, right to your heart. God is not interested in outer appearances. He is interested in what is in our hearts. We find this truth over and over in the Bible. Women are to be more diligent to take care of what is in their hearts, rather than trying to portray an image outwardly that is not who they really are. This does not mean that you are not supposed to take care to be presentable outwardly. However, when you do take the time to dress the outward person, let the outward shine forth what is inside. In other words, dress the outward with modesty, honor to God, and respect for yourself. Too many Christian women adorn themselves outwardly no differently than unsaved women who dress in ways that tempt men to think things they should not. Some women will be offended by that statement. However, the truth of the matter is that most men are visual creatures, and there are far too many of us walking around committing adultery in our minds because of what is being displayed before our eyes. Modesty in the public eye is not only showing fear and reverence for God, but also showing respect for self, and toward your own husbands. A man does not want other men thinking sexual thoughts about his wife, because the wife chooses to be immodest and dress herself on the outside in a way that provoked such thoughts. I am being brutally honest today because I have seen too many women fall victim to the world's idea of what real beauty is. If a man is going to love you, let him love you for the beauty that God creates within you. Let him see the beauty that comes from your intimacy with God, and your desire to be pleasing to the Lord. A woman who has a heart for God will have beauty within that will shine through without makeup, jewelry, or fancy clothes. All those things are not wrong to wear, if done with modesty and a desire to please God. Inner beauty will shine brighter outwardly than any outward fixtures we could ever put together. Men, I want to say to all of us today, let us appreciate our women, our wives, for who they are in Christ Jesus, and we will begin to see the beauty that lies within them. Let us not be shy about telling them, and letting them know, how much we appreciate that inner beauty that is shining through.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
No comments:
Post a Comment