We are adornments

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, the word adorn is defined as

to make (someone or something) more attractive by adding something beautiful

With that in mind let's look at this verse from Titus:

"Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." (Titus 2:9-10)

I like the emphasis here. Jesus' doctrine is pure and beautiful on its own, but we adorn it when we live by its standards. Pastor Bayless Conley expounded on this verse in a devotional titled "Double Standard."

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Double Standard

I would like for you to read again the Scripture we read yesterday, Titus 2:9-10,

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

We make the gospel unattractive when we live contrary to our beliefs. The gospel becomes unsavory and unattractive to those outside the church when our lives do not match up to what we say we believe.

Take the verses we read here. Paul says, in effect, that we make the gospel unsavory when we pilfer (which means stealing items of small value) or talk back to our boss.

You do not adorn the gospel when you show lack of respect for your boss, rip the company off, use the phones and computers at your job for personal business, take extra long lunch breaks, steal paper, take staplers, steal pens, or whatever you can get your hands on.

You should not dress the gospel in rags and then pass out tracts to all your coworkers or invite your boss to church.

This truth does not just apply to work. Do not live contrary to your beliefs anywhere. Do not live a double standard at home. If you do, it will turn your kids away from wanting to serve Christ. If you are into sports and you curse a lot, cheat, or have a bad temper, you dress the gospel in rags.

In 2 Corinthians 3:2 Paul states that, You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.

The truth is, we are the only Bible some people will ever read. They are looking at our lives.

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Here is one other verse with the word adorn in it:

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)

Gill's Exposition explains,

"when all the elect of God are gathered in, the number of the saints is perfected; when the good work of grace is finished in them all, and they are all arrayed in the righteousness of Christ: and to be "adorned", when not only they are clothed with the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation, and are beautified with the graces of the Spirit, but also with the bright robes of immortality and glory."

So keep His doctrines, for we are an adornment to our Groom's truths. In heaven right now, He is adorning His city for us, His bride.