Digging into 1 Timothy a little more tonight I came across some scripture in chapter 2 that I couldn't help but want to share with you.
A reminder, 1 Timothy was written by Paul and it was written to Timothy.
Therefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the woman to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for woman who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2:8-11)
I want to make this post short and to the point because there really isn't a ton to cover.
First thing I want to point out is what Paul is telling all men to do. He is instructing men everywhere to pray, and to lift of holy hands without anger or disputing. Men where are we at? We are supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the household and the church and too often it seems like we simply aren't. If we have some sort of ego it's time to let that go. If we have any sort of fear about not knowing how to simply lead the household, offer it up to God and he will help! As men we need to completely and wholly surrender ourselves to God. Not just 80% of ourselves or 50% but all 100%. We can't doing anything if we aren't all the way for it. If we aren't all in, how are we going to expect our family to be all in? It's a beautiful picture to think of men everywhere praying with their hands lifted up. I haven't been a part of anything like that or seen anything like that before but I can imagine it being powerful. Any time I am able to see other men willing to grow and striving to grow it's powerful because that is how it should be.
Besides displeasing God, anger and stiff make prayer difficult. That is why Jesus said that we should interrupt our prayers, if necessary, to make peace with others. Have you ever tried praying with other people when you had some sort of dispute with somebody who you were praying with? It's an awkward feeling because that prayer isn't very genuine. God wants us to obey him immediately and thoroughly. Our goal should be to have a right relationship with God and also with others.
Second is for all the women out there. Paul is instructing the woman to dress modestly, with decency and property, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. Paul believes that women should be clothed in their good deeds. Good deeds come from the inside where true inner beauty comes from. You can't go to your dresser and pick an elaborate outfit and say that you have good deeds. You don't have to dress fancy to show that you have good deeds and that you worship God. Dressing extra nice to make yourself look better than others because of what you do isn't right. It's totally fine to dress up and look cute for the right reasons.
It is not unscriptural for a woman to want to be attractive. Today, however, to what degree should women take this advice about fixing their hair or wearing gold, pearls, or expensive clothes? Paul wasn't prohibiting these things when he wrote about it. He was simply saying that women should not be drawing attention to themselves through these things. Modesty and decency are the key words. All women would do well to remember that beauty begins on the inside. A gentle, modest, loving character gives a light to the face that cannot be duplicated by even the best clothes, makeup, etc. If you ask me, any sort of outer beauty isn't beauty unless there is inner beauty is present.
In general, the rule for both men and women emphasizes that both behavior and dress must express submission to and respect for Jesus Christ.
I hope this most caught your attention and that you were either encouraged or convicted. A relationships with Christ requires complete submission. We can's just give a little of ourselves. We must give everything.
I write for one reason, and that is to encourage others, give perspective, and get people excited about their faith.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
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