Modesty Is Not Just About Appearance

It is about your heart... Your speech... Your motives... Your attitude... And ultimately, the way you dress yourself.

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Two years ago Jesus laid on my heart to lead a life set apart for Him... Very different than how I was before. These changes included more love, devotion, attitude changes (uhh, He's still working on that!), and a more decent wardrobe and motives. 

But what IS modesty? Is it simply the wearing of skirts and fully covering shirts? For some, yes. I love wearing skirts (I mostly always have, especially dresses!), and I think that in some cases it is easier to leave more to the imagination in them. But if another sister wears pants, as they can be decent too, will we give her a judgmental, condescending glance (in our hearts without realizing it)? ... Would Jesus have done that?

John 8:7 "When they persisted in asking Him questions, He straightened up and said, “The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her."

This verse above tells the answer of Jesus concerning an adulterous woman (who broke God's 10 commandments), yet Jesus (Yeshua) told her, "...Where did they go? Has anyone condemned you?” The woman answered, “No one, sir.” Yeshua said, “I don’t condemn you either. Go! From now on don’t sin." John 8:8-9 And we all know that adultery is a very different subject, so if Yeshua Himself was able to forgive this woman, just imagine what is expected of us when we want to judge others! Remember that Paul advised us to "dress with modest apparel" (1 Timothy 2:9) and the word "modest" means "Properly, restrained by a sense of propriety; hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful; ..." and to dress with "good works" (such as love and non-judgementalism). Remember that if the other person's clothes are not up to your modesty standards, it does not make them less of a Christian.

Matthew 7:1-5 "Stop judging so that you will not be judged. Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, ‘Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you have a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye."

Sisters, I know that we all want to love and never judge one another... But sometimes (I am including myself), we are prone to judge quickly without even thinking about it, or wanting to hurt the other person. This goes for everything, not just clothing... Can we take our eyes off (yet honor) outward modesty for a second and look up to Jesus, and His teachings here on earth? He said,

Matthew 6:25, 28 "So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes."

Clearly appearence was not as much of a concern to God compared to our attitude towards each other and love for Him, the Father. So even though it is a good thing to dress with sense and prudence, why make it so serious? As much as I support and enjoy it, wearing skirts is not the 11th commandment. 

I pray that Yahweh will give us good judgement towards ourselves, and love to others. I love you all and hope to walk the narrow way joyfully with you and Christ!

Have a wonderful (almost) weekend!

In all sisterly love,