The Pride of Life

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

My Beloved and I have had a busy summer with some travel sprinkled in and added to the mix.  From the state fair, to malls, parks, hiking, museums, and just local pedestrian traffic, we have seen it all.

I have been reminded once again of how we as women can be so easily deceived.  Christian women and girls can also be swept into the newest things (clothing fads, books, movies, etc) and become involved in things we would never have chosen if we would just remember every day, every hour, who we are in Christ.

The world is seductive with all its trappings.  Without much trying both men and women can become caught up in it like the proverbial frog slowly boiling in a pan of water.  And just as Charles Schultz’s Snoopy often has a chocolate chip cookie calling his name, we can have things and activities wooing us to reach for them everyday.

Immodest clothing for females is high on the list of the world’s trappings.  Many times this includes the few and skimpy undergarments that are worn.  In these last years, with dresses being popular, many of them are modest enough, but they become immodest when it is obvious very little is worn underneath them.

When I realize these - usually young - women have chosen not to appropriately cover themselves under their clothes, I feel shame for them.  They do not know, and perhaps may never know, how this demeans them in the eyes of men.  Sometimes the very thing women do to attract men only lowers what men think of them.

There is a word picture concerning modesty which I have heard.  Do not to wear clothes like a prostitute would wear.  Although this may sound rude or too rough of a way for speaking about some women’s clothing, it is still quite wise and true.

All women want to be respected, honored, cherished, loved, and highly esteemed.  As Christians we need to rethink some of the things we do, we say, and we wear so when people see us they will see modesty and Jesus shining through us in many other ways.  Let us rise up with wisdom, reaching out to our daughters and friends with love, and guide them out of their immodesty.  Let us pray for husbands and fathers to rise up to protect their women from seductive worldly thinking.

So what is the will of God?

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2