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2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf be reconciled to God.
We are to be ambassadors for Christ
Isaiah 62:10
Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner (standard) for the peoples!
We are to lift up a standard for the people.
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
We are not to love the world for the world will pass away.
Romans 12:1,2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We are not to let the world squeeze us into its mold.
Philippians 4:7,8
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Whatsoever is true, lovely, noble, just, pure, of good report, think on these things.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
By beholding we become changed. That means we eventually become like that which we behold (spend time with, watch, listen to, etc.).
Psalm 11:5
The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
He who loves violence displeases God.
Psalm 119:37
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.
Don’t watch things that are vain (valueless, worthless, or futile).
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Let the same mind that is in Christ be in you.
1 Timothy 2:9,10
In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
Woman dress modestly, and decently, in suitable clothing, refraining from gold, pearls, or expensive clothes. Don’t let these things define who you are, but let your good works define who you are.
1 Peter 3:2-5
When they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.
The true ornaments are not outward ornaments, but the changing of the heart to be like Christ.
Genesis 35:2-4
And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.
Jacob at Bethel meets God in revival and commands his household to remove their jewelry and destroy their idols. Throughout the Bible, the wearing of jewelry is associated with harlots, adultery, and going astray (backsliding). The removal of jewelry is associated with revival and returning to God.
Exodus 33:3-6
“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, “You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.” So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb.
As the children of Israel enter the promised land they remove their ornaments.
Isaiah 3:16-24
Moreover the Lord says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts.” In the day the Lord will take away the finery: the jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. And so it shall be: instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth, and branding instead of beauty.
God reveals His displeasure when His people artificially adorn themselves and lack character beauty.
Hosea 2:13
“I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; but Me she forgot,” says the Lord.
Jewelry is associated with idolatry and forgetting God
Revelation 17:1-5
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
The false church is pictured by God as being decked out with jewels. She has left her true lover Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:1-3
The spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty of the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Jesus gives to us true beauty. He clothes us with the garments of salvation, granting us the jewels of peace, joy, forgiveness, freedom from condemnation and happiness within (see Isaiah 61:10)
John 8:29
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
Jesus always does those things that please His Father.
John 13:17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Happiness comes from Knowing and doing God’s will.
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.
I delight to do Your will, my God!