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Topic: Paths (05/17/04)
TITLE: Pathway to Modesty By sandra snider 05/18/04 |
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You’re at a crossroads, dear one. A path must be chosen.
You’re a teenager now. How will you dress as a young woman? Will you choose the path that’s broad and wide and easy for the multitudes of shoppers? Will you, without much thought, carelessly select trendy but often-sleazy fashion items that hang and beckon on the racks in all the department stores? Which skirts, shorts and tops will get placed in your shopping cart? Which path will your cart get pushed down, the crooked and destructive path of the world?
Or will you choose the straight pathway to modesty? As a Christian, modesty is obviously the right path to choose. Unfortunately, there are few today in our culture (or even in the Church) who choose this path because narrow and difficult is the pathway to modesty. Yet, God’s Word has much to say on the subject of clothing for females.
Let’s start by opening our Bibles to Isaiah 3:16-24. These verses describe how some Jewish women dressed a few thousand years ago; and God was not pleased with their appearance. Unfortunately, things haven’t changed much and if God were writing those same words and sentiments today, this is how God’s letter to America might read:
“God will judge the prideful American females who walk around with the haughty attitude, ‘I can dress however I want.’ Their bodies are pierced and studded with jewelry of all kinds. They wear skimpy tops, no bigger than doilies, really, to reveal cleavage and bare midriffs as they try to catch the attention and glances of men and boys. They walk the streets in clothing better suited for bedrooms than for sidewalks! They are self-assured now but the Lord will strip away their pride someday. Gone will be their heavy perfumes, short-shorts, visible bra straps, bosom-hugging tight T-shirts, low-rise jeans and mini skirts. Someday, all this be will gone and all that will be left to them is shame and disgrace.”
Now, for a dramatic visual contrast, check out Ezekiel 16:10: “I clothed you in embroidered cloth…I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk…your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth.” God clothes his daughters in beautiful fabrics fit for royalty! The clothing of the Proverbs 31 woman is fine linen as well, which sanctifies her, sets her apart, and makes her special.
Ezekiel 16:14 says, “Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor, which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. When you clothe yourself in a God-honoring way, beloved, you will have His splendor, not the world’s inferior standard of beauty. This fallen world shouts at you to show more skin in order to be considered beautiful, but we know that Satan is the father of all lies.
God’s pathway is this: dress modestly and the Lord will bestow upon you a special beauty that makes you even more attractive to your brothers in the Lord. Modesty enhances your beauty, dear daughter, and I guarantee you that dressing modestly and sensibly will actually be one of the reasons your future husband is drawn to you. The way you dress determines your reputation. A good name and a good reputation are to be chosen, says Proverbs 22:1, so choose the pathway to modesty.
God wants your body covered. I’m not saying that you should go around in sackcloth and ashes (you know me better than that, Hannah!), but Revelation 19:14 describes the Saints (that’s us) as being clothed. The tormented man who lived among the tombs in Mark 5 is described as being “clothed and in his right mind” in verse 15. He becomes perfectly sane after he encounters the Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ.
When a girl is not dressed properly she is not even in her right mind. Surely and sadly this describes most females today. What are they thinking! Well, according to Scripture their thoughts are disordered and they’re not even thinking clearly.
Think clearly, dearest Hannah, and choose the pathway to modesty!
Love,
Mom