Correct Attire

Song: More than Anything, Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2BhpYUCPmA)
To Worship You I Live (Away), Israel & New Breed

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvar60wIv2s&feature=related)

Scripture:
Matthew 22:1-14 (New King James Version)
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

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My devotional last night, from "Grace for the moment: Inspirational thoughts for each day of the year" by Max Lucado, read like this:

Clothes of Salvation

This body that dies must clothe itself
with something that can never die.
1 Corinthians 15:53

[Does] Jesus care what clothes we wear?

Apparently so. In fact, the Bible tells us exactly the wardrobe God desires.

“But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and forget about satisfying your sinful self” (Romans 13:14).

“You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This means that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-27).

This clothing has nothing to do with dresses and jeans and suits. God’s concern is with our spiritual garment. He offers a heavenly robe that only heaven can see and only heaven can give. Listen to the words of Isaiah: “The LORD makes me very happy; all that I am rejoices in my God. He has covered me with clothes of salvation and wrapped me with a coat of goodness” (Isaiah 62:20).

(from Max Lucado's book ) When Christ Comes

All Scripture quotations are from the New Century Version

I thought it was really funny to read this at this time, because I had spoken with someone recently about a church clothing issue (whether or not men should remove their hats in church as a sign of reverence for God) and had spent a lot of time yesterday composing an email about what I thought the Lord told me, and wanted me to share, regarding that situation.

But as I thought about it, I was reminded of an experience I had with the Lord several years ago:

At that time, I was attending a church that had a pretty casual dress code. I was thrilled, because I was just getting back into going to church, and the whole “dressing in church clothes” thing was such an issue for me that I was using it as an excuse not to go to church. So when I visited the church for the first time and happened to see someone I knew and her husband both dressed in jogging suits, I felt that at least there I would be presented with a church experience that was pretty non-threatening and non-judgmental on that level. While I didn’t start going to the church on a regular basis then, this aspect of that church did allow me to keep an open mind about later attendance.

Later, after I had begun attending the church regularly, I would happily wear my jeans and whatever, never giving my style of dress a second thought. Then one Sunday, walking to my car after the church service, I stumbled on the walkway and heard “no more jeans” in my spirit. Immediately I was on the defensive – other people were in jeans, and today I didn’t even have on pants but a blue jean skirt, and I was dressed more conservatively than some other people, so what was the problem? While I didn’t hear anything else – apparently this was not up for debate – I couldn’t forget about what I had heard. So now I no longer felt comfortable wearing jeans, pants, or even jean skirts to church for Sunday service (although I would wear them for other events at the church, even Bible study, and that didn’t seem to be a problem), and as a consequence found myself more thoughtful and traditional in my choice of attire.

What I see now is that as my knowledge of God grew, there needed to be a change in my approach to Him, a change of my focus in His presence. As my “spiritual garment” changed, my physical garments were required to reflect that change.

Luke 12:47-48 (New King James Version)
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.


My concern needed not to be what was comfortable for me, but what would please the One into whose Presence I was being welcomed. I am reminded of Esther’s focus in preparing for her audience with the king:

Esther 2:15-18, New Living Translation (NLT)
15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.
16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.

The Good News Translation (GNT) puts it this way:

15 The time came for Esther to go to the king. Esther - the daughter of Abihail and the cousin of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his daughter; Esther - admired by everyone who saw her. When her turn came, she wore just what Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem, advised her to wear.16 So in Xerxes' seventh year as king, in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, Esther was brought to King Xerxes in the royal palace.17 The king liked her more than any of the other women, and more than any of the others she won his favor and affection. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.18 Then the king gave a great banquet in Esther's honor and invited all his officials and administrators. He proclaimed a holiday for the whole empire and distributed gifts worthy of a king.

Thank You, dear Lord, for Your kind, patient, gracious and loving guidance throughout all phases of my growth and development as I “put on Christ.” Help me, Lord God, to clearly hear and instantly heed Your Word as I continue to decrease while You increase in me, thereby conforming me to and tenderly molding me into the image of Your Son such that I may inwardly share His likeness and experience the favor and joy of Your pleasure and oneness with You. This is my true heart’s desire, O God. I love You. Amen.

Isaiah 61 (King James Version)
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

7For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

…and my journey with Him continues…