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DAY FOUR - Demur
Are modesty and holiness important to God? God is holy and demands a holy people that will be like Him (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve, man’s sin has separated him from a holy God. The only way to restore the original communion between man and God is for man to be separated from sin. The choice is either separation from God or separation from sin. There are only two families—the family of God and the family of Satan, who is the god of this world system (1 John 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:4). There is no neutral ground. These two families are distinct and separate. One is a holy family—a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). The other is an unholy family. The call for separation from this unholy world is clear and explicit. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:17).
There is a story about a 9 year old girl reading a medical reference book. The mom noticed periodically she would run outside, then come back in. She continued to read the book and did this several times. Later, the mom noticed she had taped little leaves over the anatomically correct illustrations in the book. Her little daughter understood something about modesty.
Modesty is important to God not because it is merely about dress, but because it is a reflection of the heart which is expressed in outward behavior that is molded by the Spirit. Holiness is a reflection of the heart. This is why it’s important to God. He wants your heart to be right. If your heart is right then you have been separated from the world and restored back to your Creator. This is why the Bible says to honor the Lord in modesty and worship him in the beauty of holiness (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Chronicles 16:29; psalm 29:2)
Read: 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:2
Meditate: Am I seeking to please God or impress others? Is the Word of God my standard or the latest fashion? What do my clothes say about my heart?
Action Point - Review our key verse (Matthew 5:16). Does God care if our state of dress or undress tempts others to sin and think lustful thoughts? Do we have a responsibility to protect the purity of other's thoughts to what extent we can? What is God saying to you about modesty? Spend some time writing in your prayer journal regarding the impressions you are feeling based on the Word of God and what His Spirit is saying to you. Are you modest?
DAY THREE - Distinct
Why does God care about gender distinctions? We live in a world that promotes, even celebrates unisex behavior and apparel. There is a concerted effort to break down the distinction between male and female. Yet the record of God creating human beings in Genesis makes it clear that God’s design was for there to be male and female. They were to be different and complimentary one to the other.
These gender distinctions were part of God’s instruction to the Israelites for men and women not to wear clothing that pertained one to the others. God wanted a visible separation in dress code. When these standards are violate mankind start down the slippery slope to confusion of roles, identity and authority. When a society violates these godly principles they degrade their protection from the attacks of our spiritual enemy.
Without these godly distinctions we open ourselves to the ungodly influences of un-regenerated people. Is it possible that the common acceptance of the homosexual and lesbian lifestyle began (in part) many years ago with the breakdown of gender distinction in apparel and role? Our creator wants us to follow after His created order and thereby give us access to His blessings and authority.
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:13-15; Deuteronomy 22:5
Meditate: Why is God concerned about the way His people appear and behave? Does the distinction in appearance and apparel of men and women have any significance in our present culture? Why or why not? Should the “outward man” be impacted by the “inward man”? Think of some examples.
Action Point - Review our key verse (Matthew 5:16). Make a list of what it means to be a person of your gender. Make a list of what you find attractive in the opposite gender (i.e. - what should they be and act like?). Is being male and female important to the perpetuation of the human race and healthy cultures? How? Make this a matter of prayer.