Consider Your Royal Status

# 66 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 2:9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, (1 Tim 2:9) I want to spend some more time on this matter of proper dress for women in the worship setting. I certainly understand how some could read this and literally choose not to “braid their hair, or wear gold jewelry, or pearls, or wear expensive clothing when they attend worship services. ” Their sole desire in following these rules is to honor God through obedience to the literal Word of God. On the other hand, I also understand how others will view this in the context of the culture of the day. We live in different times. No one ought to think that a woman who spends time on making her hair look nice, or wears gold jewelry or pearls, or expensive clothing is a harlot from the temple of idolatry down the street, but that's the way it was in the culture of Paul's and Timothy's day. Society in general was immersed in the temple worship of cults which involved temple prostitutes, who dressed in the provocative manner of a harlot. As you read the New Testament letters to the churches, you can't help but pick up on the sense of urgency for Christians to distance themselves from these heathen practices. James crafted a letter to these Gentile churches in Ac 15:29 that dealt with this matter. He wrote, “that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, (practices involved with idolatrous worship) you will do well.” And as Paul wrote to the Corinthians: 2Co 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." So, what to wear to church ladies? No adornment? No restraint? Something in between? May I suggest that search the Scriptures and pray about it? One thing for sure, you can't go wrong with modesty, moderation, and what is proper and fitting for the worship of a King. Remember MEN and WOMEN, you are sons and daughters and brothers and sisters of a King and you have gathered in His presence. You are royalty! Let that be your guideline as you gather for worship, and do the best you can.