Recently my husband and I took our youngest daughter to a local sporting event. We purchased the obligatory snacks before heading to our seats. Not long after sitting, four young women sat a couple of rows in front of us.
I wish I could do justice in writing the reaction these young women received. My daughter hit my arm, leaned over whispering, “Mama, that girl is only wearing her bra.”
True statement.
Now she had on bottoms too, but it appeared no one was gazing that direction.
Her friends were dressed similarly.
If I’m being honest, my first reaction was pure anger. Angry these young girls were parading around in front of my husband (because believe me – they were up and down more than the basketball dribbled on court). Angry my young daughter was witnessing this too.
I watched men trying their hardest to avert eyes from staring. Women didn’t even bother being subtle – they stared – dumbfounded. The sweet older lady in front of me snapped pictures of the girls throughout the game – probably because no one would believe her when she described the clothing to them over coffee the next day.
There were two teenage boys beside us – they had no idea a game was played on that court.
But as I watched these women, my anger slowly turned to sadness. What thoughts had gone through their minds when dressing for this outing? What message were they sending about themselves?
Then I asked the same questions of myself…
That’s when I really started looking around the arena – really looking. Because let’s face it, we all clothe ourselves for a purpose – sending a message to the world around us about who we are and what we think about ourselves.
We clothe ourselves…
To feel better…
To hide those few extra pounds…
To blend in…
To stand out….
To feel confident…
To show off hard work in the gym…
In the days that followed, I started noticing clothing and people’s comments on their clothing more – especially with people I encountered. At a party, a woman told me every designer she was wearing in the first minute of our conversation. Another woman spent several minutes explaining why she was dressed sloppily.
Whether we admit it or not, we care about clothing – even when we are protesting, “I don’t care how I look.”
Clothing matters.
That’s why when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and felt shame for their nakedness, God sacrificed an animal to clothe them, (Genesis 3:21).
But God did so much more.
Centuries later, God sent His one and only Son – Jesus – to earth in the form of a baby. That baby grew in wisdom and stature, (Luke 2:52). Jesus lived a sinless, perfect life healing the sick and loving and all those around Him.
Then He sacrificed Himself – dying on a cross – for you and me – and defeated death three days later when He walked out of the tomb fully alive and breathing.
Believing in Jesus provides us new clothing – we become clothed with Christ, (Galatians 3:27). We put on Christ, (Romans 13:14).
And when we put on Christ, how we attire our physical body becomes representative of Him. Does it honor Him? Does it glorify Him?
Jesus tells us clearly in Matthew 6: 25 – 34 about clothing:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (NKJV)
What about you?
Do you worry about clothing?
How are you clothed?
Some of the most commonly used erectile dysfunction medications by the person who is suffering from such diseases can usa generic viagra consume American ginseng and notice considerable changes in their overall health. Any new government will be keen to liberalise the economy and attract urgently needed levitra on line sale foreign investment into the country. This same ingredient is also present in the cheap discount viagra medication at a descent discounted price. In elderly, male impotence is obvious after a certain period, the only difference is some experience it faster or at viagra cost in canada younger ages. What does your clothing reveal about you?
Most importantly, are you clothed in Christ?
If your answer is no on the last question, please contact us at blessedmess.us@gmail.com. We would love to talk with you.
But/Then:
-
Read Numbers 34: 3-12.
-
Write out everything you learn about Israel’s boundaries. Who inhabited the areas?
-
What stands out to you in this passage? Why?
-
Read Joshua 15.
-
How many times is the word boundary (or a synonym for boundary) used in this chapter?
-
Based on scripture, why are boundaries important?
-
Read Matthew 10: 1-17.
-
What boundaries does Jesus set?
-
Who does He give these boundaries?
-
What does this say to you about boundaries?