Given the impact clothes can have on both guys and girls, how can a young person look fashionable while also modeling and promoting godly thinking? Based on scriptural instruction, here's a plan:

• Instead of wearing clothes featuring ungodly sayings or actions, select items that promote godly values (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

• Instead of wearing immodest (overly revealing) clothing that invites others to sin through sexual lust, choose outfits that demonstrate that we respect and practice God's standards of sexual morality (Matthew 5:28).

• Instead of cheap fabrics that will quickly wear out, choose better quality materials that will look better longer. Even Jesus wore a good quality coat while here on earth (John 19:23-24).

Instead of a defiant spirit directed against anyone questioning our individuality, strive for "a gentle and quiet spirit" that is appreciated by God and others (1 Peter 3:4; also Romans 12:18).

When our appearance and attitudes promote biblical values, we are letting our light shine as Jesus asked His followers to do (Matthew 5:14-16). VT