Men and Women

1 Tim. 2:9-10

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling, likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable attire, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but that what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works. 

Every place, that is not just in church, men should be praying [even praying for the women]. Apparently the men were, and still are, prone to anger and quarreling [not to say that all men are]. But certainly we see it in so many instances of abuse for women and children and even road rage. To be sue there are murderers and combatants, but I am not sure if that is predominantly men. Regardless, a Christian man should never engage in these behaviors especially if he wants to be holy and to have an effective prayer life. So obviously those things must stop, but the lifting up of hands, not just any hands, but holy hands, must be paramount. For the hands to be holy, sinful behaviors must cease!

Then on to women. Apparently our Achilles Heel is vanity and immodesty. Why is that ? An overwhelming desire to look like the world? A secret desire to be noticed by all men and not just husbands? Whatever the motivation, immodesty must stop. But the problems lies in what is immodest since it is a nebulous word. What is immodest for some is not for others. But if the Christian woman is sincere in her desire, the Holy Spirit will lead her correctly. She will be modest. But there are other areas as well, self-control and vanity. Self-control covers so many areas from eating to watching TV, from shopping to hobbies, Whatever it is , women must exercise self-control. There must be balance! In addition her focus must not just be on her appearance, her hair, her jewelry, her clothes, and oh yes, her shoes! Self-control must be in these areas as well. Does functionality have a say in these matters? What about quality and quantity? Once again prayer could bring the answers. Even though these areas seem trivial, they apparently are not! God included them in His word for a reason. 

So whether you are a man or a woman prayer must reign in the life. It will be the guiding force for what we do, say, think, feel, for what we wear, and for what we participate in. 

Father,

Thank You for including these areas in Your words as well. Help me to be attune to Your Spirit so that I might hear His guiding and voice.

In Jesus name,

Amen