TRUE ADORNMENT

 TRUE ADORNMENT...

Mary Ann Wray 

The Bible does not say that women should NOT wear jewelry or nice clothing...

The Bible says don't let these things be the MAIN emphasis. Rather, the emphasis needs to be on inner beauty. Scripture emphasizes inner beauty and to "put on" compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

A woman can be dressed to the nines and look ravishingly beautiful on the outside, but inside, be full of bitterness, lustful thoughts, malice, jealousy, striving and more ungodly characteristics. Or she could be dressed in plain Jane clothes and still have these wrong heart attitudes with bitterness of soul. It’s what’s on the inside that matters. That is what our Messiah said.

"Your adornment must not be merely external--with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes; but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God. " 1 Peter 3: 3-4

Didn’t Jesus rebuke the Pharisees who were so consumed with ceremony and the letter of the law but were severely deficient in true holiness? He told them they needed to clean the inside of the cup because they were full of greed and self-indulgence. Holiness is a heart attitude, not a matter of legalism to a letter of the law in matters of apparel and ceremonial washings.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.” Matthew 23: 25-26

Seek HIS Kingdom first and HIS righteousness. This is what transforms us into the beautiful image of Christ from glory to glory (Romans 12: 1-2).

"Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." Romans 12: 1-2