The Best Summer Outfit

 

         Summer is rapidly approaching, and the shift from the spring outfits to summer ones will soon be “heating” up.  What is popular and trendy this year will be different from years past, just like it always is.  If you are looking to adorn yourself with apparel that won’t be popular, but will be far better than anything the latest fashion magazines can come up with, then read on.

         When you mention the Bible and clothes, people tend to get defensive quickly.  “Is this about what you think I can or can’t wear?” they might say.  Really, who cares what I say about what you should put on.  It’s what God says that you should care about.  The Bible describes what we should put on and wear for every season, not just summer.  It’s for men and women, husbands, wives, and children. What does it look like? Let’s go to God’s Word and see. 

 

Be Clothed with Submissiveness

One of the most common passages people think of relating to the subject of adornment is 1 Peter 3: “³Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”  Unfortunately some rip this passage out of context to prohibit the braiding of the hair and all jewelry.  Perhaps they should be reminded that in Solomon’s description of his bride in the Song of Solomon he says: “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.”  To focus solely on the external ornaments and jewelry creates a legalistic code that misses the heart of the issue. 

As Peter pens these words under direction of the Holy Spirit to wives, there are several things we see in this passage about the adorning.  One, in the sight of God, it is very precious.  Aren’t those the only eyes that matter?  And not just precious, but very precious. The AV translates the word as “very precious” once, “costly” once, and “of great price” once.  1 precious. 1a requiring very great outlay, very costly. 1b excellent, of surpassing value. 

A second thing about this adorning is the imperishability of it.  How long do your clothes hold up?  Even if they aren’t worn out, there is a good chance they are “grown” out.  Yet the text here speaks of its lasting nature. 

Another thing we see in this passage is that the adorning is to be the hidden person of the heart.  In verse 4 we see it is the gentle and quiet spirit. External beauty is worthless if there is no internal beauty with it.  In verse 5, the adorning is described further as: “For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.  The submissiveness of a wife to her husband is the adornment and example to follow.  Why?  In verse 1 it says to do so in order that: “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your respectful and pure conduct.”  It’s not what she says, but rather what she is.  Secondly, the adorning of submissiveness fulfills God’s design for the relationship.  In 1 Cor. 11 Paul writes: “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, ⁵ but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. ⁶ For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. ⁷ For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. ¹⁰ That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; ¹² for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.”  This adorning is not popular, for both sexes have a propensity to develop their own design for the relationship, which is contrary to God’s plan. 

Just so there is no confusion that only wives are called to put on the adornment of submissiveness, God calls all Christians in chapter 2 to: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”  In verse 18 Peter adds: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.”  In Chapter 5 he tells the younger men to: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.” Think of the beauty of the attire of submissiveness. It fulfills the purpose of God, and thereby brings good results to those who do so.  Yet man thinks he can somehow go outside of God’s design and still get the happiness he seeks.

 

Be Clothed with Humility

In 1 Peter 5:5 we read: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”   The word for clothe is very interesting and important here. It means a knot or band by which two things are fastened together, to fasten or gird one’s self. This was the white scarf or apron of slaves, which was fastened to the belt of the vest and distinguished slaves from freemen, hence in 1 Pet. 5:5, “gird yourselves with humility as your servile garb” means by putting on humility, show your subjection one to another. Also, this refers to the overalls which slaves wore to keep clean while working, an exceedingly humble garment. Since humility was definitely not a virtue or something desirable in the Roman culture, (and this has not really changed today) you can imagine the shock when they are told to figuratively outfit themselves with the attire of slaves.   Just as a slave’s focus and concern is on the one he is serving, the Christian’s focus and concern should be as well, both towards God and others.  In John 13, Christ demonstrated this by putting on the apron of a slave and washing the feet of the disciples. 

Being clothed with humility may not win you any beauty pageants, but it will highlight the beauty of God’s grace working in your life.  This serving in humility as God has called is only possible for those who have been made spiritually alive.  It should be noted that the text calls for effort on the part of those who hear to “Clothe themselves”, and not simply sit back and expect to let it come to them.  Humility is a constant battle, a continual dress, and if you are at the point where you think you are humble, well, then you aren’t anymore.

 

Put on Jesus Christ

      In Romans 13 we read: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”  What we are being called to do here is to put on in practice what we are in position. “Put on” carries the idea of sinking into a garment.  So to “Put on” Christ would be progressive sanctification, the changing of your character to His.  When you “Put on” Christ, others who look at you will see Christ.  Paul warns against making provision, or planning in advance to satisfy the flesh, which will be contradictory to putting on Christ.  Again, the “Putting on” carries the idea of action on the part of those hearing.  Take action, don’t just sit back and expect someone to dress you.  Be up and putting on Christ daily!

 

Put on the New Self

      In Ephesians 4, after we have been told where we were spiritually, and about the new life and our reconciliation to God through Christ, we have been instructed to: “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” If then you have been given life from God and reconciled to Him, you are to demonstrate that by putting off your old manner of living and putting on the new manner.  The word “new” is new in character, or of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of.  It’s not “new” in the sense that no one has ever seen that kind of life before, but “new” in that it is completely unlike the old one.  And for some people, the life you live by putting on the new self may be unheard or unprecedented to them. 

 

Put on the Armor

      If what God is calling you to put on and wear seems a little “wimpy”, then you haven’t understood it yet and need to study it more.  In Ephesians 6 we see that we are to: “¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”  Just as a soldier would be crazy and foolish to go into war without the proper protection, a Christian would be foolish not to put on their spiritual armor since there is a spiritual battle going on.  Each piece is important and necessary if the Christian wants to be successful in the fight.  Again, we see from the text the action called for on the part of the hearers to gird themselves.  There is no put on and then I can forget about it forever attitude here.  It’s a call to constantly be arming ourselves by God’s grace to be armed and protected in the fight. 1 Thessalonians 5 mentions the armor as well with: “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”

 

Put on Love

      In Colossians 3 we read we are to: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”  In verse 14 he adds: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”  1 Corinthians 13 tells us that externally we could be doing what appear to be great things, but without love these actions are meaningless.  A loving person has an amazing beauty, which radiates through their compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  No earthly clothing item can come even remotely close to the beauty of someone adorned in love. 

 

Now Examine Yourself

      We wouldn’t get dressed and walk out without checking ourselves out in the mirror to make sure we look ok.  Does the same diligence and time we spend looking into a mirror at our decaying physical appearance apply to the time we spend looking into the mirror of God’s Word at our spiritual dress?  If our clothes have holes in them and needed repaired, we wouldn’t go around very long without getting them taken care of.  On the other hand, how long do we go around with “holes” in our spiritual apparel without taking care of them?

 

The Superiority of the Christian Outfit

      As we have looked at, the outfit of the Christian is far superior to any physical outfit.  It never goes out of style (for God never changes), never wears out, and is indescribably more beautiful and functional than any human piece of clothing.  Above all, the dress of a Christian highlights not themselves, but rather highlights the magnificence and grandeur, and glory of God.  It is He who took dead sinners and gave them life, all for His glory.  Rich or poor, famous or not, all Christians can have this attire.  Will you wear it?  What good is it to simply know about it, and yet never put it on?  Let’s put on the Biblical outfit and show the world what true beauty is!