I have to admit it, I love bling. Rhinestones and chunky jewelry make me smile. I have a pretty pink leather suit laden with sequins, and my quest for the perfect shoes brings me sheer joy. I'm what some people call, a "girly girl," in spite of my rather mature age (smile). Yet, there is much more to me than the outward shell.
In Peter's instructions to wives in I Peter 3, he tells us, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
There are many interpretations of what I Peter 3:3-4 means, but one thing is crystal clear. Inner beauty is of much greater value than anything we can do to adorn ourselves on the outside. A meek and quiet spirit is worth a "great price." What I want to emphasize is that the scripture says a "meek and quiet spirit." I believe that meekness is nearly synonymous with humility, modesty, and gentleness. Sometimes coming across women with traits like these are quite frankly, like finding a needle in a haystack.
Hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I've been acquainted with a few dry-faced, quiet women in the church who carry a spirit of heaviness that can cover all they come in contact with like a wet blanket. They are just downright mean. With just a look, they can make you tremble (ha!). Okay, you get the picture. . .
The thing is, the transformation has to be from within first. When your spirit is in alignment with the Lord's, you will dress the outside appropriately. Whether you believe that makeup is out for you or not is so NOT the issue. Do whatever the Lord instructs you to do. You won't need to feel your worth based on how much your clothes cost or what designer you wear. You won't need to get plastic surgery to make yourself feel worthy. On the flip side, you won't feel superior to others because you "look holy." When you are meek and humble in spirit, I believe you attempt to see the heart, the goodness, and the value in others.
You can like nice things, but you're never a slave to them. Whether it's clothes, your physique, car, or home, there is balance. You have a life that's in submission to God, and because of that, you don't weigh superficial things above the things that matter most.
We're bombarded with images, especially from the media, that are point blank diametrically opposed to women having meek spirits. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit that is almost equivalent in the world to being a doormat. However, we know that true meekness isn't being a doormat. When a woman is meek, there's true humility and a graciousness that only comes from being saved. As in all the fruits of the Spirit, this too is possible with relationship with the true and living God, reading the Word, and prayer.
So, ladies, let's make sure that while we're trying to find shoes to go with that suit, that we are "blinging" on the inside and radiating the love of Christ to all that we touch with the femininity, gentleness, and quiet strength that the Lord has given to each of us.
What are your thoughts?
No comments:
Post a Comment