Clothing (Deut. 22:5)

6/19/2009 9:16 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  Clothing

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Deut. 22:5

 

            Message of the verses:  “5 ‘A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.’”

            This text begins a new section in Warren Wiersbe’s book which he entitles “Maintaining Distinctions,” and under this comes the sub-section for today’s SD.

            There are some laws in the OT that are difficult to completely follow as Israel did in the OT, and this seems to be one of them.  However there is a principle to follow in all of these laws that are difficult for NT believers to follow and that will be something that it discussed in this SD.

            This law states that a woman was not to put on anything that a man puts on, and thus it is talking about more than clothing, for it could be talking about the kind of things that a man needed to do his work or to be a soldier.  A man was not to put on women’s clothes or what is called a “cross dresser” in today’s society.  There was rampant homosexuality in that culture as there is in today’s culture and this is one of the reasons for this law.

            Warren Wiersbe points out that “The principle behind the law is that of separation from the world and recognition of God’s order for men and women.  It’s a principle that helps us honor God and avoid confusion and sin.  To say that we have to obey the letter of this law today is to miss the point.  Does this also mean we can’t wear garments with mixed fibers (Deut. 22:11),” or other things in the OT that are not followed today.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Something that can be followed for me today is “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed to the image of Christ.”  If I follow this Romans 12:1-2 principle then the problem of cross dressing or other sins will not be a problem.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. “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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
2. Put on God’s Spiritual Armor:  The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
3. Learn to be content.
4. Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
5. Trust the Lord to guide my path for today.
6. Keep a short list with the Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week                                               Ephesians 3:14-17

 

14.  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father,

15.  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

16.  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

17.  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love,

 

6/19/2009 9:55 AM