If a young woman is full of sexual and emotionally integrity, her thoughts, words, emotions and actions reflect an inner beauty and a sincere love for God, others and herself.
She does not need to dress sexily to seek male attention, but she'll dress fashionably and look sharp and maybe even appear sexy to a guy (like beauty, 'sexy' is in the eye of the beholder and some guys will think she looks sexy even when she dress modestly), but her motivation won't be self seeking or seductive. She will be able to present herself as an attractive young woman because she knows she represent God to others.
Jesus was saying that the law isn't what is important-love is. If she loves God, loves her neighbour and loves herself, then she can live far above any set of rules and regulations. When she lives by the spirit of love, her beauty will shine from the inside out.
God holds each of us accountable to do what we know to do. If she wants to be a young woman of sexual integrity, she may need to let go of some of her freedom in dressing, thoughts, speech and behaviour in order to serve the best interest of others out of love. Not only will God provide this knowledge of how to act with integrity, He will also honor her if she applies this knowledge and act with responsibility.
A young woman needs to look to God to satisfy her physical, mental, emotional or spiritual longings for the opposite sex according to God's plan and until they can be fulfilled in a marriage relationship. It simply means that she tries her best to guard her heart, mind and body against any compromise that threatens her sexual integrity. If she wants to be a young woman of sexual and emotional integrity, she must match her words, thoughts, actions and convictions with God's Word. When all four of these things agree with one another and align with the Word of God, she is acting with sexual and emotional integrity. But if one area is out of alignment with God's Word, she has compromised her sexual integrity, regardless of how far she has gone physically.
Physical beauty isn't going to last forever and that our primary focus shouldn't be on outward beauty. However, beauty comes from loving and serving God with a happy heart is a beauty that endures forever even when her figure has fallen south and wrinkles adorn her face. True beauty doesnt come from fresh makeup, the latest hairstyle or how she looks in a beautiful dress. Rather it radiates from the inside out, from a heart that delights in the Lord.
Promise from God:
1) Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised-Proverbs 31:30
2) Your beauty should not come from outward adournment, such as braided hair and wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.-1 Peter 3:3-5
3) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. -Matthew 22:37-40
3 comments:
Praise the Lord for your sharing! Indeed every word of yours is true and impactful. Your posting should be shared to many girls to touch them.
Alice, I'm glad for your recent development. God has made you a very pretty girl nowadays, from inside to outside. You are so admirable now. But don't be proud :) No one is perfect.
We are to focus on inner beauty much more than outward beauty. But we need to take good care of our outward beauty also, for it is a gift of attraction from God. We need to be a good steward of all gifts given by God. We are to use our outward beauty for God and life partner, and not for our own interests like gaining approval from guys or proving our own worthiness. Please read this verse and think about it:
Philippians 2:3-4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Let's learn from Esther in Bible who was beautiful, both inside and outside. One who is beautiful displays the nine spiritual fruits and cares for others more than herself. See my posting on Inner Beauty of Esther and Gift of Attraction.
I wonder what happened to Alice... Such wisdom from a young woman.
I really love this verse especially the fact that God said it Himself, we should always be readily to believe in the Lord:
Ezekiel 16:14
New International Version (NIV)
"And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD."
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