Clothes - Pt 1

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (Psalm 139:13-18 ESV). It may seem strange to see a little series of devotionals on “clothes”; however, it seemed to be something on my mind. This is the time of the year when wardrobes start to change for most folks. The weather moderates and we wear different kinds of clothing to suit the warmer weather. Perhaps the most interesting part of that change is how much “style” has to do with what we wear. Functionality really is secondary. Now, today I’m not going to talk about “what” we wear. So don’t give up on this devotional yet. Clothing is an essential part of life. As I mentioned, concern about style is very common. It ranges from what’s stylish in your state to the fashion runways of Milan to the neck rings of the Kayan people in Burma. It’s amazing to me that since I now live in Texas, I don’t get those funny looks from the folks at the cleaners when I take my jeans in to have them starched and creased anymore. Lots of folks here wear them that way. Anyway, this began my thoughts to crystallize around what the Bible has to say about fashion and clothing. That took me to our reading today. Let me begin by saying that when it comes to specifics, the Bible doesn’t really help us decide whether or not I should starched and creased jeans. There are several stories dealing with fashion and clothing throughout scripture, from Adam and Eve’s fig-leaf garments in Genesis to bright white robes in Revelation. As I have read these again, I have learned that by looking at something as “worldly” as fashion and clothing important truths about both God and ourselves are revealed. That’s where I want us to go for the next few days. For instance, did you know that God clothed us before we even were born? Job says, “you clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews” (cf. Job 10:11). Our skeletal, cardiovascular, and muscular systems alone wouldn’t suffice, so God clothed us with skin. God designed us in such an incredible way that David couldn’t help but sing out, “You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” That means God is the great Designer. God fashioned us “in his image.” Perhaps this explains why fashion exists. Something of God’s creativity rubs off on us. So, go ahead, wear your jeans starched and creased if you want to. Let that remind you of the plan and purpose of our GREAT God!