Corona Devo 1732

My guests were due to arrive anytime now, and the house looked pretty good.  But I wasn't happy with how I looked.

In jeans and a t-shirt, I certainly hadn't dressed to impress.  I could have (should have?) represented more positively.  More fancily.  More polished.  

But the second hand on the clock told me that good would have to be good enough, and so I went downstairs just in time to open the door to the first knock of the morning. 

It turned out that no one cared what I was wearing.  (And how shallow of me to worry that anyone would.)  No one walked in and asked me why I didn't dress-up more for the occasion.  And the "occasion" was nothing fancy anyway, just chit chat with some women.  

And the response of my friends (or lack of a negative one) was exactly what God had already whispered into my ear earlier that morning when I sat with Him and His Word: our beauty isn't in our outfit or jewels: we are attractive by our hearts for the Lord and by the good things we do.

And I want women to be modest in their appearance.  They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. (10) For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.  ~I Timothy 2:9-10

God has something to say about every subject, and that includes our vanity as women.  The fact that He knew that I needed to be (re)taught this lesson about true beauty this morning-- is a testimony to the intimacy and timing that God shares with us.  

He gets us.

The Lord knew (2,000 years ago) what was distracting to women, and not much has changed over the years:   

And I want women to be modest in their appearance.  They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. ~I Timothy 2:9

The acceptance and comfort that I felt from my friends (regardless of what I was wearing) is also the bigger picture of acceptance and comfort that God is challenging us to find in Him today, regardless of whether or not we are dressed in royal robes.    

God clarifies for us, in case we had missed it: Outside appearances are one thing but they are not the important thing.  

The important thing (about our lives!) isn't our outfit, but how we are outfitting those around us to know Christ more.  

How can we drape His Heavenly robe around them so that they too might walk in His ways and serve others as they journey for Jesus?  

What good things can we do to beautify/affect/impact the world and its people in response to their Creator? 

And I want women to be modest in their appearance.  They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. ~I Timothy 2:9

God told me how to make myself attractive, and it wasn't with pearls or high heels.  He spoke through the Bible and through my interactions with friends, and I didn't miss His point in either delivery.

God does not care what we wear on the outside, but God cares very much about what we wear on the inside.

And if we are wearing the Lord on the inside, then our outward actions will reflect his glory and beauty.

For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.  ~I Timothy 2:9-10

What good things are we doing today?  Are we reflecting the beauty of God through our actions and outpourings?  And through the good things that we do? 

If we cannot answer, "yes", then don't answer yet (because the day is not yet done.)  Prepare (and complete) an answer to give God when we lay down our heads tonight. 

We've got all day to complete the assignment. And we don't have to get gussied up to do it. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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