“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
To those of you who have read more than a few of these short letters to you, what do I look like? How do you envision me in your mind’s eye, and does it make any difference, would it change your perception of what is written in these letters?
Was Moses a large, viral man with long grayish hair and a flowing beard as artists have portrayed him over the centuries, and if you will notice, almost always in a dark, long robe.
The images of Christ you have seen, do they resemble a man who has no form or comeliness that we should desire Him, or are they of an incredibly handsome man with a well cropped beard?
Do you find yourself looking at the person speaking to you more than you do hearing them?
It is our rightful duty, honor and privilege to serve the Living God, and guess what? He does not care what you look like. If the shirt you wear is old and worn, as long as it does not have a vulgar saying on it, He does not mind. But most of the people you meet might take some form of offence, especially many who profess to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you see four men coming down the street, long hair, full beards, all walking intently and with purpose, are they coming from a biker bar or a prayer meeting?
“And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:” (James 2:3)
The old saying is not true my friends, clothes do not make the man.
I mean this with no ill-will towards anyone, but I do not care what you think about me, as long as I am not dishonoring the Lord in any way, what anyone thinks of me makes no difference to me whatsoever. I am concerned with what the Almighty thinks of me.
I can, as well as you can, be an effectual witness for the glory of God in that worn out shirt, jeans with holes in them and no shoes as well as in a business suit, it matters not the appearance, we do not listen with our eyes.
In most western cultures the suit and tie are what is respected, not the person, once the person has shown worth perhaps the tie can be discarded, but shorts, sandals and a T-shirt will soon make others deaf to even the wisest of words.
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.” (Gen. 37:3) Daddy’s favorite, and that coat did not help any at all.
A handmaid tailored suit or one off the rack, neither one makes a man, character and integrity do, and then only if they are blessings from the Lord.
Have you given this any thought, if the Lord Jesus Christ is not the first person you meet when you arrive in His Kingdom, you will have to ask someone to point Him out to you, because you will not recognize Him among the masses.
Camel’s hair or flowing robes, the finest dress you can afford or sweatpants and a sweater, it makes no difference at all to the One you are to offer your body as a living sacrifice to.
Is there a dress code in the church you attend? Is it written down, or can it be clearly seen on the faces of those when you have not in their eyes adhered to it? Understand now?
What does a born-again believer look like in your eyes, or better yet, how do you believe you should present yourself to others in your attire? Whose standards are you trying to live up to?
Everyone in white robes in heaven, everyone, give that some thought.
Show up to church in one and see what happens.
