I realized there's a lot of S words I've been talking about lately:
- Self denial
- Self control
- Sex
- Submission
All of which are crucial to a marriage. Don't worry... I'm not adding another S word, at least not today.
Day 22
Today we're going to talk about another quality Paul tells older women to teach younger women in Titus 2: purity. When we broke the meaning of that word down it simply meant to be properly clean, innocent, and modest. Think of it this way, how do you dress or act or speak, that honors God and your husband? Are your words pure/clean/modest? Are your actions pure/clean/modest? Does your dress produce pure or unclean thoughts?
I'm not saying you shouldn't dress up or wear figure flattering clothes, I'm just asking you what your husband thinks of them. I'm going to challenge you with a thought: if you're husband finds the shirt you put on to be too low and asks you to change it, what is your response? If you're husband thinks the dress you put on is too short, what are you going to do?
I'm not going to tell you what it should be, I'm instead going to point you to some Biblical truths to help you reach your own conclusion...
- His body is yours and your body is his. ("For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." 1 Corinthians 7:4) He probably doesn't want to show off something that's for his eyes only.
- Men are protective. (Ephesians 5:22-33, just as Christ gave himself up for the church, the husband is given those same protective instincts.) Only men know how other men think. Is he questioning your clothes to protect you?
- Wives are called to submit to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:22-24, Titus 2:5, 1 Peter 3:5) Are you joyfully submitting because you recognize your husband wants to treasure your body as his own, for his eyes only? (Like you do his body?) And do you joyfully submit because God is calling you to do so? OR do you reject God's word because of your selfish heart that believes what the world is telling you: your body is your own, no one can "own" you, no one should be able to tell you what to do! Let me challenge you with that nonsense: the world's issue is that they do not submit to God and will deal with the consequences of that choice in eternity. Reject the world's standards and embrace God's, 150 years from now you will be so thankful you did.
In order to have purity exude from every pore of your being you must embrace sound doctrine found only in God's Word. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Make His Words, your words. Pray that God forms your heart according to His Word. Your thoughts, actions and words will in turn be pure, because they are not of this world. To keep your thoughts on Him, and not of this world, Paul tells us to renew your mind by studying God's wondrous works, His AMAZING character traits, transform your mind by reminding yourself of everything He's given, that you don't deserve, all for HIS glory. The only way to do that is through Scripture so you can offer yourself as a living sacrifice ready to worship HIM in all that you do - words, actions, thoughts, and even how you present yourself to the rest of the world by what you wear.
I'm hoping this all sounds familiar! If not go back and read the entire purpose of this challenge given to you on day 11 - all because I've been stuck on Romans 12:1-2 for weeks. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Can you determine the will of God in how to answer the questions I asked you to answer about dress and purity? YES! According to Scripture and the passages I gave you should answer these questions quite thoroughly: if you're husband finds the shirt you put on to be too low and asks you to change it, what is your response? If you're husband thinks the dress you put on is too short, what are you going to do?
If you're struggling with how you'd respond respectfully, I'm going to go back to an S word: self denial. Get over yourself and submit to God's Word.
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