Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Today, we gather as a body of Christ, united in faith and
love, to reflect upon a significant aspect of our spiritual journey - living by
God's standards of abstinence and modesty. As we navigate our paths through the
world, we are constantly met with conflicting standards, those of the world and
those set forth by our Divine Creator. The world encourages indulgence, but God
calls us to a life of self-control and restraint. The world promotes
ostentatious display, but God desires a modest heart.
In 1 Peter 2:11, the apostle Peter writes, "Dear
friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires,
which wage war against your soul." This verse vividly reminds us that
our true home is not of this world, but in the heavenly realms with our
Creator. We are merely temporary residents here, called to live a life of
abstinence from sinful desires that conflict with our spiritual destiny.
Abstinence, in this context, does not merely refer to
refraining from physical indulgences, but extends to all areas of life where
excess can lead us away from God's path. It could be overindulgence in food, an
unhealthy obsession with wealth, or an excessive desire for worldly recognition
and approval. Abstinence is a call to exercise self-control, to prioritise
God's will over fleeting worldly pleasures.
Modesty is often misunderstood as merely a legalistic dress
code. While modesty indeed involves dressing in a way that respects our
God-given dignity, it also extends to our speech, our actions, and our
attitudes. Modesty is a call to humility, a reminder that we should not seek
glory for ourselves but direct all glory to God. Not to put on an false outward
show of piety, but to be presentable in a way that is pleasing to our Lord.
In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, the apostle Paul tells us, "likewise
also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty
and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works."
Here, Paul is not merely prescribing a dress code, but a lifestyle that
reflects a heart transformed by God's grace.
Living a life of abstinence and modesty is not a call to
live in deprivation or obscurity, but an invitation to experience true freedom
and joy that comes from living in alignment with God's will. By practicing
abstinence, we learn to appreciate God's blessings without becoming enslaved to
them. By embracing modesty, we learn to value our worth not by worldly
standards but by God's unconditional love for us.
So, let us ask God for the strength to resist worldly
temptations and to live by His standards of abstinence and modesty. Let us
strive to mirror Christ's humility and self-control in our lives, becoming
vessels of virtue that reflect God's radiant light to those around us. May God's grace guide us, His love surround
us, and His Spirit empower us on this beautiful journey towards godly
abstinence and modesty.