Dress for Success
Today’s Verse:
And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. ~Exodus 28:40
What do coats, girdles, and bonnets have in common? They were the distinguished attire of the priests who served in the Tabernacle. We have a Western saying that says, “Clothes make the man.” The clothing we wear and how we wear it is a message to other people about our attitude and respect for them. Business people adopted the idea that business people must dress for success. Let us see how the priest's attire spoke of his responsibilities.
We see the requirement.
The coat that the priest wore was a linen tunic that covered him from his shoulders down to his ankles. This was considered his inner coat that was like an undergarment to cover his body. Similar to the high priest, this inner garment was worn all the time and had to be fit to size. Though simple, it spoke of the man’s modesty and consecration. The girdle was a sash that he wore as a belt to tie his garments close to his body. The girdle, or sash, was essential for keeping his garments from impeding his progress and movement. The bonnet covered his head and was very indicative of his service as a priest. His covering told people that he was God’s servant who represented them before God.
We see the righteousness.
Each aspect of his clothing represented the righteousness of the man’s life. The servant of the Lord is to be blameless, sober, just, holy, and temperate. The bonnet represents a thought life that was captive to the obedience of our Lord. It is imperative that we think on things that are true, just, honest, pure, lovely, and of good report. The coat represented a clean life. Since it was an undercovering, it represented that the servant of the Lord did not have a life that was duplicitous, hypocritical, or scandalous. He had to be above reproach. The girdle represented the closeness of his life to the Lord. All of this clothing had to be kept clean and respectful.
We see the readiness.
The priest's attire represented his readiness for service. Once his clothing was donned, he was to be actively busy with the work of the Tabernacle. We are to be instant in season and out of season. We are to be proactive in our service. We are to have initiative: when we see a need, we take the lead. When we see an opportunity, we seize upon it. We are to be ready for the Lord’s appearing. What a shameful thing it would be to be dressed inappropriately at the Lord’s appearing. We must be ready to preach the gospel. We must be ready to give and distribute. We must be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope within us. We must be ready to every good work. We must be ready to die, if necessary, for the Lord’s sake.
We see the reflection.
The priest's garments testified of who he was and Who he represented. Our testimony for the Lord is to be salt and light. It is to be salt to make the men of this world thirsty for the Lord’s salvation. It is to be light that shines in darkness. The world should know that we are God’s people through our modesty, godliness, and gender. Nothing about our appearance should suggest carelessness. We are to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Dressing for success is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Have an honorable God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Corinthians 15-16