Topic: Addressed as Dressed (Open Heaven 15 February 2019)
Memorise: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;”- 1 Peter 3:3
Read: Exodus 2:15-20 (KJV)
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
Bible in One Year: John 12-13, Isaiah 40:9-26
Open Heaven 15 February 2019 Friday MESSAGE:
God loves us so much that He is concerned about every part of us – spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). As His children and ambassadors who convey His image to the world, He is very much interested in the way we look and present ourselves before others. For this reason, He was the one who first clothed man (Genesis 3:21).We therefore ought to give careful heed to what the Bible says on dressing and adornment. Human beings put on clothes for various reasons which include covering nakedness, protection against harsh weather and to look beautiful. Adornment on the other hand refers to ornaments used to enhance human beauty. Dressing and adornment can be viewed as a form of packaging. Although the quality of the product cannot be correctly assessed by the appearance of its container alone, the container is more often than not representative of what’s inside. This is why business and branding people design packages that give near perfect impression of their products. Without any doubt, the packaging of a product plays a very important role in attracting buyers as they take a look at competing products on the display shelf. In like manner, human dressing and adornment brands the person wearing them, giving a fair estimate of their personality and character to anyone meeting them for the first time. This is why it is said that you are addressed the way you are dressed. Moses in today’s Bible reading was thought to be an Egyptian because of the way he was dressed.
The Bible often speaks figuratively about clothing and adornment. Isaiah 61:10 tells us that a person can be dressed with the garment of salvation and robe of righteousness. Job 40:10says it is possible to deck oneself with majesty and excellence, and be arrayed with glory and beauty. Proverbs 1:8-9teaches that listening to the godly counsel of parents shall one day become a graceful ornament on the head and beautiful chains around the neck of obedient children. Without a doubt, our appearance which is largely determined by our dressing and adornment communicates our personality and intentions. Just like a person can dress up as a prostitute, so also can he or she be clothed with humility or adorned with pride. Whether this is done intentionally or not does not matter; what is important is that a child of God should be concerned about the kind of image he or she is projecting to the world. It is time for you to accept the reality that a person is addressed the way he or she is dressed, and that your appearance ultimately determines how the world will respond to you. As a child of God, you must not be involved in the proclamation of evil ideologies in the name of fashion, culture, “civilization” or “enlightenment”. Your appearance indeed matters to God.
Open Heaven 15 February 2019 Friday Action Point:
Examine your closet and do away with clothes that do not present the image of God you bear in good light.
