It is an old-fashioned concept, but in the days of hooped skirts, women couldn’t see what was right under their feet. When they had to navigate difficult terrain or walk across wet grass, they had to hold their skirts up and out of the way.
Then there were spiders, mice, and snakes often coming right into their houses—more common in those days. There was only one solution: Hold that skirt high and scream.
Clothing styles may have changed, but not the story. We can all picture the comic illustration of a sensitive, modern day female standing on a piano bench or a table top, skirt in hand, and a mouse on the floor holding her hostage.
A few men, if they can be honest, will admit they have done something similar, although they are more likely to be up a tree or hightailing it up a ladder.
It’s all the same. We run from what frightens us.
The responsible Christian should do the same. What does God want us to be frightened of? Evil. When it comes our way, he wants us to hold our skirts high and run.
Let’s look at three examples from the New Testament:
Romans 12:9
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
Abhor, according to Merriam-Webster, means to dislike very much; to loathe. The definition for loathe is even better, for it means to be filled with disgust or intolerance for whatever bothers us.
When we are on that tabletop or up that ladder, we must have no tolerance for the evil that has driven us there.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
“Abstain from every form of evil.”
Abstain, again looking to Webster’s, means we have a choice. This word tells us our actions are deliberate, not impulsive or transitory; but rather played out with intent and decisiveness.
We hold our skirts high because we don’t want to get dirty. We don’t want to have the stains of evil on our hem.
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Webster’s is clear on one thing: Death is permanent. When something dies, it is ended forever.
We can only kill what we can see, so hold those skirts high, stomp on that snake, kick that mouse out the door, and turn those spiders into greasy smears. Evil should make us sick with dread and willing to do anything to keep our hems clean.
When the world sees our skirts held high, they might not understand, but Jesus will. He will applaud our actions, and his applause is the only source that matters.
When we run from evil, we wind up in the arms of Christ.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
Originally Published 7-15-14 in Discipleship