There is such blessing in purity, and our clothes should reflect it. Matthew 5:8 says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
The question of modesty reminds me of the title of a film series by Francis Schaeffer entitled - “How Should We Then Live?” the answer is very simple – biblically! I was raised wearing skirts and am thankful for that. However, I do know what it was like to always feel the odd one out. (Always in a modest skirt!) The problem was I obeyed the rules, but didn’t love my Lord and see what his Word had to say. Of course, when I earned my own money, then I had the right to wear what I wanted to, didn’t I? In my early 20’s, I saw a large group of young women who all wore skirts, were diligent in soul-winning and had lots of fun, and were very happy. That was a surprise, because I was under the impression that feminine modesty did not lead to happiness. The night I was saved, I knew that obedience required getting rid of some clothes. It was easy; because then I knew that I was not my own, but was bought with a price. (I Corinthians 7:23). Why is it so important to be modest?
1. It is a command with warning of God’s chastening. Mark 10:19 says “Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honour thy father and mother.” 1Thessalonians 4:6 “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” Defraud means to cause to covet – Barnes notes, “It is a general command not to defraud in any way, or to take advantage of another. Another description of defraud, is to raise an expectation you have no intention of fulfilling.”
2. We want to please the Lord. He loves me and bore my sin on his own body on the tree, that I might have forgiveness from sin, and spend eternity with him in Glory. The Lord Jesus is God the Son and revealed himself in human form. If the Lord visited me here on earth, I try to imagine how he would look at me? – Would he not notice what I was wearing, because it was balanced and drew attention to a sweet countenance, or would I feel ashamed in his presence? Would he see a plunging neckline, fit too fine, backless, strapless, short hemline? Nakedness and shame go together in the Bible (i.e. exodus 32:25, rev 3:18; 16:15)