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Sons marry and daughters are given in marriage. When the
father raises his hand to signify his willingness to give
his daughter away in marriage, it is the culmination of some
20 years of preparation. At that point the father is handing
his daughter over to another man to love and protect his
daughter. For this reason, Christians must train our
daughters to excel in virtue. The first area of concern is
the dressing of Christian daughters.
In 1 Timothy 2: 9-10, Paul was dealing with the issue of
dressing in the context of the worship. In 1 Peter 3:1-6,
Peter was addressing the same issue with believing wives
However, in both instances, Paul and Peter tell ladies how
and how not to dress.
How not to dress – Let it not be… (1 Pet. 3:3)
Christian parents who are preparing our daughters to be
given in marriage have to be concerned about our daughters’
dressing for two reasons. First, our daughters’ dressing is
a reflection of who they are. Second, men react visually.
How then should women who aspire to be godly not
dress? “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting
on of apparel” (1 Peter 3:3).
Peter is not teaching that Christian ladies should
not look nice or wear make-up. Rather he is making a
contrast between the outward physical attractiveness against
the inward beauty. The former is usually stressed, and the
latter is often overlooked.
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The world judges us by what we wear, and therefore
what we wear must reflect who we are.
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Men, remember Matthew 5:27-28.
How to dress – let it be… (1 Pet. 3:4)
How should women dress? “In like manner also, that women
adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with brooded hair, or gold, or pearls, or
costly array” (1 Timothy 2:9).
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Women are to put on clothes that are modest. “Modest” here
means “proper.” Paul is saying that a woman must dress in a
manner that she appears to be properly put together.
Anything ought not to be seen is NOT seen.
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Women are to put on clothes with shamefacedness. The word
means “reverence.” Our clothes must be a reflection of our
Christian virtue. The Bible forbids nudity (Gen. 9; Lev. 18,
20). In the New Testament, nakedness is often associated
with demon possession (Luke 8:26-35).
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Women are to put on clothes with sobriety, meaning women are
to dress in a way that shows that they are of sound mind.
Dress appropriately for the situation.
“Let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4)
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Clothes change, but character will never change. True
beauty that emanates from the heart is incorruptible.
Conclusion
The role of father to a son is to be an example. The role of
a father to a daughter is to set a standard so that when she
is ready to consider marriage, she must want for a husband a
man who is like her father.
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As Christian parents, we must cultivate a gentle
spirit in our daughters.
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As Christian parents, we must be the examples of
godliness to our own children. |
