Dress for Success!
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As I was pondering what to wear to an upcoming function, I was made aware by God's Spirit that we all need to be more conscientious about preparing our spiritual garments to meet the Bridegroom, Christ. We often become so preoccupied with pleasing the world and its standards that we forget that the most important One to please is God. Does it really matter to God if you wear a Perry Ellis tie to church fellowship, or that you are wearing the latest fashion in dresses? God would be more pleased if you took that money (that you would have spent on the hottest styles) and gave it to a charity. That is one way that you may dress to please God -- with selfless gifts of the heart to those in need.
"Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life." Jeremiah 4:30
If we are dressing to please the world, it is a shallow pursuit. The world is fickle. It will reject us when a new bauble catches its eye. But if we seek first to please God, in His time, we will be rewarded. God is faithful to those who put their trust in Him.
Another way to prepare your garments for the wedding is to clear your mind of evil thoughts and your mouth of speaking those evil thoughts. These thoughts and words will mar our garments and make them unfit for wearing to the wedding of Christ. Is it always easy? No. The evil of this world can be exasperating. It causes us to stumble, grumble and growl. But, we have to set our hearts to rise above wickedness (through the grace of God). We need to meditate in God's holy Word and seek His help in prayer. We have to be ready when Jesus returns and we must be properly attired in robes of righteousness.
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:2-14
We really need to be more concerned with how we spiritually dress to please God. We need to dress for success in God's Kingdom!
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Ephesians 6:11-18
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