Marriage the Death Sentence
The title of this post may sound unappealing and negative. After all marriage is supposed to be something beautiful. It is to be the beginning of something worth while. It is begun with a beautiful ceremony in which a bride often presents herself in the most becoming way imaginable. The beauty of the ceremony signifies, the importance and beauty of the event.
The marriage is to be a most honorable contract between two people who have chosen each other, out of all the people on earth.
Of course there may be few who really have confidence that it will be all they hope for and have dreamed about. It has become such a common thing for marriages to end and for people to have been married more than once. This is what we have seen far too often. So, often this contract is entered into with the assurance, not so much that the spouse will fulfill his part of the contract, but with the assurance that if he does not, there is always a way out and a chance to try again to find what the heart longs for.
Still there is the thought of, and the hope for, that story book romance that really will last forever.
But I write here, concerning the Biblical perspective of marriage.
What was God's idea of marriage? What should a Christian marriage look like?
Ge 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Ge 1:26 -And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Ge 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God created marriage to be, the coming together of two individuals to become one flesh and thus becoming a further reflection of God.
I realize that this is an out dated concept. It is no wonder that when some marry today, they retain their own, original last name. This signifies their individuality. They may be married, but want to keep a perspective on their own individuality. It used to be that the bride took her husband's last name. But what that signifies is often looked down on today.
In reality, however, the Bible does tell us that after the man was created, the woman was made out of his flesh and his bone. Adam said, "This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. However he went on to say that after that, each individual man, was to forsake all others, and keep to, (be glued to), be joined to his wife. Then in the New Testament we are told that the wife is a part of her husband's body. So then, if we look at it from a scriptural standpoint, it makes more sense for a woman to give up her father's last name and to take on the name, or that is, the identity of her husband, for they are never again to be considered two separate people but a part of each other.
You may ask, why not the other way around? Why not have the man take the wife's last name? Simply because scripture tells us that the man is the head, the protector and provider for his wife. He is the one to stand guard so to speak, for his family. Since he is the head of the wife, it makes sense that she would take his name. But also because that the woman was created out of the man's body and the Bible tells us that she is his body.
This very idea may be detestable to many, who feel this would mean loosing their self worth; the value that they have as a person.
Satan has used this idea to his own benefit, to the detriment of many. He knows that each individual part of the marital unit, has high value and must be respected and allowed to function in the way God created them to do, in order for the whole to be all that it should be. So he has presented the idea of loss of self and self worth, to deceive individuals and steal from them their full potential and the one thing that their heart truly yearns for.
The marriage is the place where two individuals unite to become a new and completed person, who will be the reflection of God. It is the place where each individual make up, personality and temperament can find it's greatest purpose and fulfillment; where all that makes up each individual can blossom, flourish and exercise it's talents, abilities and true purpose to the greatest extent.
A seed must be healthy, without disease or decay, in order to be able to produce fruit. Yet it must be planted in soil, receive sunshine and water, or it will never produce. It does not matter how perfect the seed is, in and of itself. If left alone, it will dry up and profit nothing. However if that perfect seed is planted in the earth and watered, it will be blessed with dying. And when it dies, then from within it, will spring forth a new and healthy plant. - The plant is the seed. - It comes from the seed. It could not have existed without the seed. Still it is new, tender, beautiful and in need of care. With proper care, it will grow into a strong plant and produce beautiful fruit. If the seed were to call out, "I am a perfect seed! I do not need to be anything but what I am! I have purpose in myself! I need nothing more!" This would not change the fact, that left to itself it will dry up and die, and produce nothing.
It is when soil is added, the sun shines upon it and the soil together and both are watered, that the seed will die in order to live. This death is a blessing to the seed! The value of the seed is seen only after it dies. Only then will it be changed into something more beautiful than it was and benefit by giving life giving nutrition to others.
One of the secrets to a great marriage, is for each member to die, that is, to die to self and live for the good of the other.
In order for this new person, this new unit to exist, there are some things that can no longer
be. Before an individual is married, if he has left his parents home, and gone out on his own, he can be an independent person. He can pursue what ever goals and dreams he chooses. He can think his own thoughts, eat what he wants, dress how he wants, live where he wants etc. He does not have to make any more commitments than he wants, except those necessary for his survival. Everything he does can be primarily centered on self, so that even if he choses a particular job, to which he may have to follow certain rules and guidelines, the purpose for his submission to this, can all be to further his own personal, or selfish goals and desires. However, in order to have a marriage, as God intended it to be, this can no longer be the case.
Consider the mind of God. God the Father and God the Son are one, so much so that they did nothing without the other. When God created the first man and wife, he was creating his own image. I believe that Satan hated this. I don't think he liked the idea of seeing the image of God, reflected in every man and wife he saw across the face of the earth! And he has busied himself to destroy that image and to steal from mankind, the very understanding of what the marriage was meant to be. But if people today can learn how to be one, even as the Father and Son are one, they will have the potential of having one of the most fulfilling and joyous marriages on earth.
When a child is born, he has no knowledge of what his purpose is to be. He is fearfully and wonderfully made. He has instincts for survival, and built in desires for the things he needs. He needs love, acceptance, approval, to learn and create, to have peace and joy ... ; for he was created in God's image and these are things of God. That is to say, God desires love, approval, acceptance, etc. and the desire for these things is wired into us.
But God is not singular. He is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is one unit, that makes up God. And so it is wired into mankind, the need to also be a part of a unit that makes up one whole individual; the image of God.
As we know, man sinned in the garden of Eden and the picture of God's original design and heart was distorted. It took death to bring man back to life and to restore him to the father.
In order for an individual to truly become one with a spouse, it takes death.
Joh 12:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Mt 10:39 - He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mt 16:25 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mt 20:28 - Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Lu 17:33 - Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
So many scriptures tell us the truth of the importance of dying to live. We hear sermons on this subject. We hear sermons on loving God and putting Him first. Sermons on taking up our cross to follow Jesus, which is dying to self that another may live. We hear sermons about doing the work of God and spreading the gospel etc. However all the important truths of God should be lived out first and foremost right at home, on our marriages! If you can get it right there, you will be better suited to practice your Christianity in the world. In fact your very life, and your very marriage will be a reflection of 1. God himself 2 The love of God 3 the truth of God in action! Your marriage will testify to the fact that you really can do the things God has required of you as a Christian and live a life of harmony and joy!
It was Jesus who first laid down His life that you might live and have life more abundantly. Now in order for you to show Him in your life, you must lay down your life that your spouse might live and become one with you.
Joh 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
While the man is the head of his wife, this is a position of servanthood. This is a position given him by God whereby he may serve his wife, in protecting her, seeing all her needs are met, taking the brunt of problems and responsibilities that arrive and seeing she has all she needs to live and grow and go about accomplishing those things God has called her to do and be.
Both the husband and the wife, belong to each other and are not a part of each other!
Gen. 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Mt. 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.
Mt. 19:6 -Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mrk. 10:8 - And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
The woman is required to submit to her husband, (Eph. 5:22) thus allowing him to go ahead and do what God requires of Him; be the head of his wife. The husbands are required to honor their wives as the weaker vessel, which I believe is to say, as one who needs his care and protection; someone worthy of honor. I say this because Prov. 30 describes a virtuous woman as a very strong individual and portrays her as having the capacity and ability to do many things including business. Yet She is wired in a very sensitive way in order to be the wife and mother she needs to be, tending to very deep emotional needs. She is the vessel to carry the man's children and give birth. She has important roles that she is best able to focus on and perform well, if she has a safe and protected environment in which to do so. The man needs to honor her for who and what she is and for the ability she has to carry on the sensitive mission she has been given. And he needs to guard, protect and honor her. If he does not honor as he ought, his prayers may be hindered.
1 Pet. 3:7 - Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Our bodies belong to the Lord and we are to glorify Him in our bodies.
1 Cor. 6:13 - ... Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
1 Cor. 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
But the Word says this of our bodies.
Eph. 5:28+29 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.
Eph.5:31 - For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
We are to glorify God in our bodies, which belong to God. Our bodies are for the Lord and He is for our bodies! But we are also told that in marriage each of out bodies are part of our spouses body. What we do concerning our spouse we do to the Lord's bod, ; that body which is for the Lord and which He is for!
1Cor. 7:4 -The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
WHY? - Because we are part of each other and we die to self. Even in love making, if we seek to please our spouse, we find great joy and pleasure!
Yes marriage is a death sentence! It is where you die to self for the one you love most under God! It is the place for you to love fully, wholly, completely, and unselfishly, as Christ has loved us! It is the place for you to practice the heart and purpose of God. It is the place for you to be loved in like manner. But even if you do not seem to receive as much as you give, it is here that God will look and bless you for your obedience to His Word and His call. Our Lord was rejected by many He died for, but He did so just the same. Through our obedience to Christ and our prayers on behalf of our mate, they too may be saved and learn to love as they ought to.
Mrk. 8:34 -And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
We have been told -
Mt 18:19 - Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Can you imagine the power that can be experienced when the two that God himself has joined together, made to be one flesh and His own image, come into agreement as one and together seek the Lord!? When the enemy of your souls and the enemy of our God comes against you and you call upon God in unified agreement with our spouse, you can expect God to hear and answer, if you are praying according to His will!
After saying that a man loving his wife is loving himself, scripture went on to say this -
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30. For we are members of his body, and his flesh, and of his bones.
31. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
WOW! When God speaks of the marriage he is speaking of Christ and the church! It is because (for this cause) we are members of Christ's body, flesh and bones, that a man is to leave his father and mother and be joined as one to his wife.
Did Jesus not lay down His life so that we might live? Did He not die to receive us, the church as his bride? Did He not leave his throne in heaven and become a human, live inside a human womb for nine months and go through the birth process!? Did He not walk the earth in the dust and dirt, give himself over to torture and death to save us from our sins and restore us to a relationship to himself and the Father? Of course He did! And the relationship he has to his church, he shows us, is to be the kind of relationship we are to have with our spouse in marriage!
Yes marriage is a death sentence! The great blessing of dying so that new life may emerge! New and better life! A life made up of one incomplete person, joined to his other half and becoming whole!
Can we do and give less than Jesus did?
Isa. 53:6 -All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Pet. 2:24 -Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
Husband do you want to see your wife become the best she can be? Jesus surely did not die because we were all so perfect! But rather because we were not! We had sin in us! But He gave His life to cleanse us and purify us and make us the best we can be. Husbands are required to love their wives in the same way Christ loved his church and gave himself for it!
Let us take a new look at what marriage is supposed to be. The place where we live out what Christ did for us to bring forth life - (Eph.5:30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Do you want a wonderful, loving, fulfilling marriage. Do you want to enjoy the ultimate relationship with the perfect mate for you! DIE!
DIE so you can really live; so your marriage can live, grow and blossom!
Listen to the Word of God and DIE!
BLOG PICTURE
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Hatred
The Hatred
There's been a saying "It's a Man's World" But American women today say "You've Come A Long Way Baby!"
There's been the feminist movement, campaigning for the liberation of women. And many women who were not comfortable with all the efforts and means used in the feminist movement, may still have sympathized with part, if not much of what they were trying to accomplish.
Women have gained the right to vote and many other things.
Women stepped out and tried the waters, in the ocean of man. And look where we are today!
There are those who have rethought the issue, and decided to go home; that maybe it wasn't so bad back there after all. But in America it is a choice a woman can make.
American women now, have many more choices than in days gone by
In India, there was a time when, if a woman's husband died, she was put beside him and burned alive.
You may have heard of cultures and/or religions in which girls are circumcised, where a woman who is raped is considered no longer of value and where a man may serve a short jail sentence for killing a wife.
It is said that in the Middle East, girls are married and the marriage consummated with girls as young as eight years old.
And then there are the religions that require women to be covered from head to toe, except for their eyes, when in public.
And many other oppressions have been put upon women.
Have you ever wondered how all of the abuse and suppression of women began?
If you had any ideas that somehow it is all rooted in a male desire to possess and control, I have some news for you!
If you say, emphatically "It is the Devil!" I certainly will agree. But why women in particular?
Where did this malicious hatred of women come from? How did it begin?
Let me tell you a story that comes from the Word of God. You have heard the story at least in part. But today you may find more to the story.
It started back in a very beautiful setting. It started way back, when everything was new; when the man and the woman were living in the glorious garden, God had created for them and all their needs were provided for.
Now God's enemy did not like what he was seeing going on, on planet earth.
He had been upon the holy mountain of God. He had been beautiful and wise and had walked up and down the midst the stones of fire (Eze. 28: 12-19)
He had decided to ascend into heaven and exalt his own throne above the stars of God and to be like the most High. (Isa. 14:12-14)
His plans had failed, (though he may yet think he will find a way to get around the doom that is his sentence from God.)
Surely he was not pleased, to see God create a reflection of himself on earth and to hand dominion of the earth over to his man! No work on their part, just by God's design and free gift, after all Satan had done to gain a high position for himself and had been brought down !
So Satan set about to bring God's man down and take his position of dominance on the earth. We have heard and read the story of how he deceived the woman in the garden of Eden.
It looked as though Satan's plan was working. He knew he would not be able to get Eve to disobey God nor rebel against him knowingly and willingly, so set out to deceive her. This plan had worked.
When he was able to get her to 'see' things as he wanted her to, then he gained a victory.
Gen. 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
When the woman 'saw', that is, when she perceived the thing to be as Satan was presenting it to her, she believed Satan's lies. She could see, before this, that the fruit looked good, but there was plenty of attractive fruits for her to eat of freely, that God had given for her health and enjoyment. But somehow she got the picture, with Satan's help, that this fruit would make a person wise. I wonder if she saw the serpent eating it and seeming to have a lot of wisdom and understanding about things. For whatever reason, she bought the idea that this fruit would make her wise, as well as being a tasty food. She listened to the voice of the enemy and sinned.
Surely this must have been very satisfying to Satan. He must have felt quite victorious, in having stolen from God's man so soon after his creation.
But then came the moment when God came along, walking in the garden and called for them. He discovered that his man now was aware of his nakedness. This had not been important before.
Gen. 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
But now there was a change.
Now the man and woman had sinned in their bodies and they felt ashamed, as though this sin could actually be seen if God looked at their naked body.
Ro 7:5 - For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
members (Strong's Concordance) 3196 = melos; a limb or part of the body:-member
2Co 4:10 - Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Ro 6:12 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Ro 7:24 - O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Ro 8:23 - And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
So God found those he had created in His own image and to be a reflection of himself, with sin in their body and no longer representing the pureness and holiness of God.
When God addressed Adam about what had happened, he admitted to having ate of the forbidden fruit when the woman gave it to him. This was a confession of both eating the fruit and also of not having done what he had been put in the garden to do, that is, -
Gen. 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
keep = (Strong's Concordance) - shamar; to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; gen. to protect, ...
Adam had failed to protect the garden and his wife in that garden, from the devises of the enemy.
But look at what happened when God questioned the woman. I believe this is very significant and should not be overlooked.
Gen. 2:13 ... and the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Adam could not have said that anyone had deceived him. He had acted with his eyes open, knowing what he was doing and not protecting his wife from it.
1Ti 2:14 - And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
The woman transgressed, while deceived, whereas the man did it without being deceived.
Some have said the man and woman blamed one another for the sin that had occurred. But I see them both as being very honest. It seems that both told exactly what happened.
Eve alone, however, revealed Satan's part in the matter. Yes she was deceived. This is not merely an excuse, but a fact.
However, Eve revealed that Satan had been at work in attempting to thwart God's plan. She had uncovered his devise.
The very one, he had used and deceived to bring about the downfall of man, was now turning the tables on him. She told what he had done and now he would have to pay the ultimate price for his sin!
Notice that God did not question Satan about what had happened. He did not ask him if it was true. God knew it was and He knew Satan's motivation.
Now look closely at what God told the serpent, for here we may well find the key to much of what has happened to women over the years.
Gen. 3: 14+15 And the Lord God aid unto the serpent .... 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
God put hatred between the serpent (Satan) and the woman!
Enmity, is - (Strong's) eybah; hostility:-enmity, hatred.
bruise = (Strong's) shuwph; to gape, that is, snap at; fig. to overwhelm:- break, bruise, cover.
The seed of the woman (Jesus Christ), would one day break Satan's head and Satan would break his heel. Indeed Satan tempted our Lord and caused his physical death, though it was temporary. But our Lord defeated Satan completely and his destruction is permanent.
It would be through the woman, who had told on Satan, that the Savior would come that was going to defeat and destroy him. It would be the woman who would carry the seed of God in her womb, nurture, provide and protect it, then give birth to the Son of God and Son of man, who would break the powers of darkness. And Satan has a specific hatred for the woman!!
Certainly Satan doesn't care for any of God's children, but there is a special hatred between him and the woman.
Perhaps we can see the need as well as the blessing of God in providing the woman with a protective covering in the man. While it is true that Adam was supposed to guard and protect the garden of Eden, and failed, in the new Testament we are told -
1Ti 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
and -
Eph 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Men still have a mandate from God to provide for and protect those God has given him.
Woman being created with the mothering instinct; with the instinct to guard and protect her offspring with her life, is going to hate the one who would try to destroy it. Above all others, that is Satan.
We should not be surprised then, by all the afflictions Satan has put upon women over the centuries, when we understand the hatred he has had for them since the day Eve was first deceived by him in the garden of Eden.
When we understand the motivation behind a thing and the devises used, we can then ready ourselves for victory!
Every child that is born to a woman of God, is another potential threat to the kingdom of darkness. Man has the power to give seed, but there will not be another life unless the woman conceives it. There is a power of life and death within the woman.
Joh 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Whatever he can do to lower a woman's self worth so that she never knows her full potential in the kingdom of God, Satan will do.
If he can blind woman to the value she is to the men God created; how much they need her to fulfill God's plan for their lives, he will do it.
Satan is the thief who does not want more children to enter the kingdom of God. He does not want more children of the cross to be born and raised up to do war against him. He wants to steal the fruit of the womb, before it has a chance to mature and become a power house of the Holy Spirit against him. He hates the women who can bring such saints into the world.
The Word of God has said -
Ps. 127:3-5- Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 - As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 - Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
But Satan has caused both male and female to scoff at this and to deny what God says is a blessing. He has offered many so-called logical reasons to disagree with God on this matter and sadly his influence has done it's work.
The heritage of the Lord; his reward, comes through the woman and SATAN HATES HER!
There is a power in the woman that Satan wants to destroy. If he can bring enough stress on her, so that she will miscarry; if he can convince her that children are a burden; if he can convince her that it would be worse for the child in her womb to be born; whatever he can do to reduce the power of the woman and steal from her, and ultimately from God, he will do it
SATAN IS AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM THROUGH THE WOMAN!
Man needs woman. It is not just to satisfy his sex drive. Woman completes the man, by God's design. She is what he is to lay down his life for; his reason to work and conquer the elements and succeed for. As the Father and the Son are not one without the other, so the man is not to be without his helpmate.
Eph 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Tit 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Christ requires men to love their wives in the same way that He loved the church, His people and willingly gave His life to restore them to the Father and to cleanse them from all sin. Man is to love his wife to the point that he will put himself on the line to help her become what God would have her to be.
But without the woman how can he serve this purpose? How can he be the man he was created to be, without the woman?
Therefore if Satan can destroy the woman, he takes from the man, what he is to lay himself down for, love and fight for and the source of his support and edification.
If Satan can destroy the woman or take her from her God given purpose, he takes the heart from the man. He deflates him and oppresses him.
If he can destroy the heart of the woman he can rejoice in having tortured that which he hates and in turn bring pain to the heart of the God who loves her!
If he can destroy the woman he removes the power she has for good on the earth and the power she has to hurt his kingdom!
If he can destroy the woman, he can lessen the number of souls born to glorify God and to be used by God for his defeat!
YES SATAN HATES THE WOMAN!
He has told her that to be equal to the man she must be able to do what the man does.
IT IS A LIE!
And it is a lie from the father of lies! Speaking of Satan, the Bible says this -
John 8:44 - ... He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
He has rejoiced in seeing the woman go out and try to prove she can function as men do. No man can do what a woman can do. He is not wired as she is. He was not created to be his own help. And his helpmate is sensitively and delicately wired to do a powerful job that only she can do. Her full beauty, her power and her potential are in her being as she was created to be - WOMAN - %100 woman.
Satan has mocked and belittled the masculinity of the man, to weaken him and make sissys of him, to incapacitate him and make him unable to function as God made him to do. He has brought discontent in the woman's mind and spirit because her husband did not feel and think as she did. And he has used this against the man and the woman. He has blinded men and women to the beauty and power in their counterpart, so as to use what was meant for their good to aide in their destruction!
WOMAN your liberation is not in being free to function like men! Your liberation is in being set free by the truth that is in God your creator and Savior. It is in being at peace in being what only you can be - WOMAN!
Never think you can delegate the job you were created to do, to the man and the end result be just as good. You cannot reverse the will and design of God and do just as well. Let us not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. We are not God and cannot improve on His ways!
Be free in Christ, by all means! That freedom comes 'in' and 'through' Him and obedience to Him and His will. When you are walking 'in' Him, guided by 'His' Spirit, fully submitted to Him, you then can resist the enemy, with his lies, and he will flee. Woman of God, you have power in the name of Jesus over Satan and his works.
Do not listen to his lies!
Do not let him deceive you as he did Eve.
Do not let him convince you, you have need of being more than what God created you to be!
Do not let him steal from you, kill you and destroy you and yours!
Call upon God, search his Word, and learn to live in the beauty and power he has put in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord!
In closing let me clarify a few things. I am not saying, in all of this, that every woman must have the same personality, confine herself only to certain activities and hobbies such as were assigned to the title of 'lady' in the days of finishing school. If you like to climb trees, ride horses, hike, drive eight wheeler trucks, be an expert marksman or even hunt, and if your personality is more outgoing than the poised 'lady' of days gone by, so be it. But whatever you do, it must never usurp the position of your husband, take preeminence over the career God has called you to as a helpmate to your husband and a mother to God's heritage. It should never step outside of the protective covering assigned you by God. Your choices in life should never be self centered to the point that you are unwilling to take up your cross daily and follow the Lord - which means - dying to self that others might live and obeying God rather than fleshly, selfish desires.
There is beauty and power in the woman. Will it be used for the glory of God in your life, or used to your own detriment, sorrow and downfall? Jesus is the answer. The one who made you loves you most!
Do you want to be free from the bondages, abuses, and oppressions of the enemy?
You truly can be! The way to this freedom is through Jesus Christ.!
For a daughter of the King of kings, it cannot be, "I'll do it my way" or I'll choose what pleases me first and all others will have to arrange their lives around me. It must always be "Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay! Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still!
There's been a saying "It's a Man's World" But American women today say "You've Come A Long Way Baby!"
There's been the feminist movement, campaigning for the liberation of women. And many women who were not comfortable with all the efforts and means used in the feminist movement, may still have sympathized with part, if not much of what they were trying to accomplish.
Women have gained the right to vote and many other things.
Women stepped out and tried the waters, in the ocean of man. And look where we are today!
There are those who have rethought the issue, and decided to go home; that maybe it wasn't so bad back there after all. But in America it is a choice a woman can make.
American women now, have many more choices than in days gone by
In India, there was a time when, if a woman's husband died, she was put beside him and burned alive.
You may have heard of cultures and/or religions in which girls are circumcised, where a woman who is raped is considered no longer of value and where a man may serve a short jail sentence for killing a wife.
It is said that in the Middle East, girls are married and the marriage consummated with girls as young as eight years old.
And then there are the religions that require women to be covered from head to toe, except for their eyes, when in public.
And many other oppressions have been put upon women.
Have you ever wondered how all of the abuse and suppression of women began?
If you had any ideas that somehow it is all rooted in a male desire to possess and control, I have some news for you!
If you say, emphatically "It is the Devil!" I certainly will agree. But why women in particular?
Where did this malicious hatred of women come from? How did it begin?
Let me tell you a story that comes from the Word of God. You have heard the story at least in part. But today you may find more to the story.
It started back in a very beautiful setting. It started way back, when everything was new; when the man and the woman were living in the glorious garden, God had created for them and all their needs were provided for.
Now God's enemy did not like what he was seeing going on, on planet earth.
He had been upon the holy mountain of God. He had been beautiful and wise and had walked up and down the midst the stones of fire (Eze. 28: 12-19)
He had decided to ascend into heaven and exalt his own throne above the stars of God and to be like the most High. (Isa. 14:12-14)
His plans had failed, (though he may yet think he will find a way to get around the doom that is his sentence from God.)
Surely he was not pleased, to see God create a reflection of himself on earth and to hand dominion of the earth over to his man! No work on their part, just by God's design and free gift, after all Satan had done to gain a high position for himself and had been brought down !
So Satan set about to bring God's man down and take his position of dominance on the earth. We have heard and read the story of how he deceived the woman in the garden of Eden.
It looked as though Satan's plan was working. He knew he would not be able to get Eve to disobey God nor rebel against him knowingly and willingly, so set out to deceive her. This plan had worked.
When he was able to get her to 'see' things as he wanted her to, then he gained a victory.
Gen. 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
When the woman 'saw', that is, when she perceived the thing to be as Satan was presenting it to her, she believed Satan's lies. She could see, before this, that the fruit looked good, but there was plenty of attractive fruits for her to eat of freely, that God had given for her health and enjoyment. But somehow she got the picture, with Satan's help, that this fruit would make a person wise. I wonder if she saw the serpent eating it and seeming to have a lot of wisdom and understanding about things. For whatever reason, she bought the idea that this fruit would make her wise, as well as being a tasty food. She listened to the voice of the enemy and sinned.
Surely this must have been very satisfying to Satan. He must have felt quite victorious, in having stolen from God's man so soon after his creation.
But then came the moment when God came along, walking in the garden and called for them. He discovered that his man now was aware of his nakedness. This had not been important before.
Gen. 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
But now there was a change.
Now the man and woman had sinned in their bodies and they felt ashamed, as though this sin could actually be seen if God looked at their naked body.
Ro 7:5 - For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
members (Strong's Concordance) 3196 = melos; a limb or part of the body:-member
2Co 4:10 - Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Ro 6:12 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Ro 7:24 - O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Ro 8:23 - And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
So God found those he had created in His own image and to be a reflection of himself, with sin in their body and no longer representing the pureness and holiness of God.
When God addressed Adam about what had happened, he admitted to having ate of the forbidden fruit when the woman gave it to him. This was a confession of both eating the fruit and also of not having done what he had been put in the garden to do, that is, -
Gen. 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
keep = (Strong's Concordance) - shamar; to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; gen. to protect, ...
Adam had failed to protect the garden and his wife in that garden, from the devises of the enemy.
But look at what happened when God questioned the woman. I believe this is very significant and should not be overlooked.
Gen. 2:13 ... and the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Adam could not have said that anyone had deceived him. He had acted with his eyes open, knowing what he was doing and not protecting his wife from it.
1Ti 2:14 - And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
The woman transgressed, while deceived, whereas the man did it without being deceived.
Some have said the man and woman blamed one another for the sin that had occurred. But I see them both as being very honest. It seems that both told exactly what happened.
Eve alone, however, revealed Satan's part in the matter. Yes she was deceived. This is not merely an excuse, but a fact.
However, Eve revealed that Satan had been at work in attempting to thwart God's plan. She had uncovered his devise.
The very one, he had used and deceived to bring about the downfall of man, was now turning the tables on him. She told what he had done and now he would have to pay the ultimate price for his sin!
Notice that God did not question Satan about what had happened. He did not ask him if it was true. God knew it was and He knew Satan's motivation.
Now look closely at what God told the serpent, for here we may well find the key to much of what has happened to women over the years.
Gen. 3: 14+15 And the Lord God aid unto the serpent .... 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
God put hatred between the serpent (Satan) and the woman!
Enmity, is - (Strong's) eybah; hostility:-enmity, hatred.
bruise = (Strong's) shuwph; to gape, that is, snap at; fig. to overwhelm:- break, bruise, cover.
The seed of the woman (Jesus Christ), would one day break Satan's head and Satan would break his heel. Indeed Satan tempted our Lord and caused his physical death, though it was temporary. But our Lord defeated Satan completely and his destruction is permanent.
It would be through the woman, who had told on Satan, that the Savior would come that was going to defeat and destroy him. It would be the woman who would carry the seed of God in her womb, nurture, provide and protect it, then give birth to the Son of God and Son of man, who would break the powers of darkness. And Satan has a specific hatred for the woman!!
Certainly Satan doesn't care for any of God's children, but there is a special hatred between him and the woman.
Perhaps we can see the need as well as the blessing of God in providing the woman with a protective covering in the man. While it is true that Adam was supposed to guard and protect the garden of Eden, and failed, in the new Testament we are told -
1Ti 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
and -
Eph 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Men still have a mandate from God to provide for and protect those God has given him.
Woman being created with the mothering instinct; with the instinct to guard and protect her offspring with her life, is going to hate the one who would try to destroy it. Above all others, that is Satan.
We should not be surprised then, by all the afflictions Satan has put upon women over the centuries, when we understand the hatred he has had for them since the day Eve was first deceived by him in the garden of Eden.
When we understand the motivation behind a thing and the devises used, we can then ready ourselves for victory!
Every child that is born to a woman of God, is another potential threat to the kingdom of darkness. Man has the power to give seed, but there will not be another life unless the woman conceives it. There is a power of life and death within the woman.
Joh 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Whatever he can do to lower a woman's self worth so that she never knows her full potential in the kingdom of God, Satan will do.
If he can blind woman to the value she is to the men God created; how much they need her to fulfill God's plan for their lives, he will do it.
Satan is the thief who does not want more children to enter the kingdom of God. He does not want more children of the cross to be born and raised up to do war against him. He wants to steal the fruit of the womb, before it has a chance to mature and become a power house of the Holy Spirit against him. He hates the women who can bring such saints into the world.
The Word of God has said -
Ps. 127:3-5- Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 - As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 - Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
But Satan has caused both male and female to scoff at this and to deny what God says is a blessing. He has offered many so-called logical reasons to disagree with God on this matter and sadly his influence has done it's work.
The heritage of the Lord; his reward, comes through the woman and SATAN HATES HER!
There is a power in the woman that Satan wants to destroy. If he can bring enough stress on her, so that she will miscarry; if he can convince her that children are a burden; if he can convince her that it would be worse for the child in her womb to be born; whatever he can do to reduce the power of the woman and steal from her, and ultimately from God, he will do it
SATAN IS AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM THROUGH THE WOMAN!
Man needs woman. It is not just to satisfy his sex drive. Woman completes the man, by God's design. She is what he is to lay down his life for; his reason to work and conquer the elements and succeed for. As the Father and the Son are not one without the other, so the man is not to be without his helpmate.
Eph 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Tit 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Christ requires men to love their wives in the same way that He loved the church, His people and willingly gave His life to restore them to the Father and to cleanse them from all sin. Man is to love his wife to the point that he will put himself on the line to help her become what God would have her to be.
But without the woman how can he serve this purpose? How can he be the man he was created to be, without the woman?
Therefore if Satan can destroy the woman, he takes from the man, what he is to lay himself down for, love and fight for and the source of his support and edification.
If Satan can destroy the woman or take her from her God given purpose, he takes the heart from the man. He deflates him and oppresses him.
If he can destroy the heart of the woman he can rejoice in having tortured that which he hates and in turn bring pain to the heart of the God who loves her!
If he can destroy the woman he removes the power she has for good on the earth and the power she has to hurt his kingdom!
If he can destroy the woman, he can lessen the number of souls born to glorify God and to be used by God for his defeat!
YES SATAN HATES THE WOMAN!
He has told her that to be equal to the man she must be able to do what the man does.
IT IS A LIE!
And it is a lie from the father of lies! Speaking of Satan, the Bible says this -
John 8:44 - ... He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
He has rejoiced in seeing the woman go out and try to prove she can function as men do. No man can do what a woman can do. He is not wired as she is. He was not created to be his own help. And his helpmate is sensitively and delicately wired to do a powerful job that only she can do. Her full beauty, her power and her potential are in her being as she was created to be - WOMAN - %100 woman.
Satan has mocked and belittled the masculinity of the man, to weaken him and make sissys of him, to incapacitate him and make him unable to function as God made him to do. He has brought discontent in the woman's mind and spirit because her husband did not feel and think as she did. And he has used this against the man and the woman. He has blinded men and women to the beauty and power in their counterpart, so as to use what was meant for their good to aide in their destruction!
WOMAN your liberation is not in being free to function like men! Your liberation is in being set free by the truth that is in God your creator and Savior. It is in being at peace in being what only you can be - WOMAN!
Never think you can delegate the job you were created to do, to the man and the end result be just as good. You cannot reverse the will and design of God and do just as well. Let us not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. We are not God and cannot improve on His ways!
Be free in Christ, by all means! That freedom comes 'in' and 'through' Him and obedience to Him and His will. When you are walking 'in' Him, guided by 'His' Spirit, fully submitted to Him, you then can resist the enemy, with his lies, and he will flee. Woman of God, you have power in the name of Jesus over Satan and his works.
Do not listen to his lies!
Do not let him deceive you as he did Eve.
Do not let him convince you, you have need of being more than what God created you to be!
Do not let him steal from you, kill you and destroy you and yours!
Call upon God, search his Word, and learn to live in the beauty and power he has put in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord!
In closing let me clarify a few things. I am not saying, in all of this, that every woman must have the same personality, confine herself only to certain activities and hobbies such as were assigned to the title of 'lady' in the days of finishing school. If you like to climb trees, ride horses, hike, drive eight wheeler trucks, be an expert marksman or even hunt, and if your personality is more outgoing than the poised 'lady' of days gone by, so be it. But whatever you do, it must never usurp the position of your husband, take preeminence over the career God has called you to as a helpmate to your husband and a mother to God's heritage. It should never step outside of the protective covering assigned you by God. Your choices in life should never be self centered to the point that you are unwilling to take up your cross daily and follow the Lord - which means - dying to self that others might live and obeying God rather than fleshly, selfish desires.
There is beauty and power in the woman. Will it be used for the glory of God in your life, or used to your own detriment, sorrow and downfall? Jesus is the answer. The one who made you loves you most!
Do you want to be free from the bondages, abuses, and oppressions of the enemy?
You truly can be! The way to this freedom is through Jesus Christ.!
For a daughter of the King of kings, it cannot be, "I'll do it my way" or I'll choose what pleases me first and all others will have to arrange their lives around me. It must always be "Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay! Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still!
Feminine Careers/Pursuits of Daughters of the king Part Two
The dirt and sand felt like it literally cut into her forehead, as Cati tried to wipe away some of the sweat, with the back of her sleeve. It only smeared but at least it stopped the dripping for a few seconds. She shifted in the ditch, where she lay watching for any sign of the enemy. It was quiet; too quiet. They had to still be out there. "They love to make us squirm," she thought. "What I wouldn't give to be home, soaking in a tub full of cool water!
Just to get a little comfort! "She shifted again. Why did she have to feel so nauseated? It must be PMS; one of those lovely benefits of being a woman. A wry smile spread across her face. Then she was sober again. She suddenly realized that when she had thought of home, it was not her own apartment she longed for, but home where mother was. How could that be, when she had been so anxious to leave there and be on her own?
Suddenly Cati felt an uneasiness, as though someone had just crept up in the shadow of the tree, directly behind her. She ducked down, her face near the ground, then slowly turned to look behind her. Nothing was there. A slight breeze moved a thin branch overhead. Otherwise all was still and quiet. "Why doesn't somebody do something! This silence is driving me crazy! "
Again her thoughts went to her mother and how she had hurried to get away from her. One thing she had been sure of; she did not want to end up like her mother or hear about Jesus anymore. What did it get mom?" she whispered to herself. For three years while her father was away in the army, her mother had been faithful. She had applied herself to studying the Bible, praying, writing long letters and trying to encourage Cati to trust God and believe for her father's safe return. One week after receiving a letter, telling her mother that he had found someone else and was divorcing her, her father had been killed in action.
Even now Cati could feel the bitterness welling up and choking her. She tossed her head, as if she could shake it off, then tried to get her focus back on the situation at hand. She felt like she might throw up. She raised up trying to get a deep breath, then she felt it. The sound of it seemed to come after the fact. First it was pain, then heat; a deep fiery heat. She thought she could hear her mother's voice as she drifted into unconsciousness.
For two days, laying in a military hospital, her mind went here and there through time. One minute she was with Ted, another she was sitting at the table in her mother's home. Ted, dear Ted. He had seen things in Cati she didn't even see herself. He saw beauty and Cati didn't want to even be noticed. He loved her and believed in her and she never wanted to trust a man or be close to one. She never wanted to love as strongly as her mother or ever be hurt as deeply.
She joined the army and worked hard at being strong; at being equal to any man and self reliant. Ted had joined because she did. And till now, he had been able to stay pretty close. Mostly she avoided him. He brought out feelings, she did not want to have, so she tried to get through to him, she had no interest in him except as a buddy.
That is, until one evening a couple months ago, during a four day leave. They had hung out together, drank too much and gotten too close. Next morning she had slipped away and had refused to talk to him since. She had opened herself too much, allowing herself to be more vulnerable than she had ever intended to be. She had to make certain it never happened again!
Suddenly she felt like she was back in the ditch, only now she could hear bullets flying, non stop around her. She noticed how badly she smelled. Why do I have to have my period now, out here in this horrid war, and no water to even take care of myself? she thought. Her stomach ached, then she was nauseous, then she felt her mother massaging her shoulders and her voice was so comforting and close. She opened her eyes. A pretty nurse smiled down at her. "Good morning!" she said brightly.
"I am glad to see you finally wake up. "Where ...? Cati stopped and put her hand on her aching head. Does your head hurt? the nurse asked. "You hit it pretty hard, when you fell. I'll get you something for the pain" "Fell?" Yes. When you were shot, you fell back on a jagged rock. You are okay now and doing well. We got you here before you lost much blood. Even your baby is doing well. You will both make it just fine."
"Baby? " Cati closed her eyes again. She wanted to sleep; to escape it all. A thrill went through her against her will. "No!" her mind screamed! I don't want to have a baby! I don't want to have to love! I don't want to hurt! I want my career! I want to do what I want, when I want! She gritted her teeth, making an effort to get control of her thoughts. "Okay, I will have a baby. I'll get someone to take care of her so I can go forward with my career. I'll not let anything stop me! I will not be like my mother! I will not love like my mother! Tears began rolling down her cheeks and then uncontrollable sobs pushed their way up and out. "Oh mother! " She cried out. " I just want my mother!" And her heart defied her, saying, "If only I could be a strong woman like my MOTHER!"
What do you want to be when you grow up? This is a common question adults ask children. When it comes to little girls, these days, one might hear answers like; - a ballerina, a princess, a singer, an actress, a mama, a nurse, a doctor, or even a lawyer or any number of things that, in days gone by, might not have been available to women.
Today, many women are pursuing any number of career choices. If you ask women about there lives, you may hear something like this, "I am studying to get my degree to become a doctor and I am a wife and mother." I am a nurse and I'm married and I have two children." And so on. This is, after all, America, where women have the freedom to do what they want with their lives. Even in the church world, there are those who would highly disapprove of any woman not seeking a college education and some 'higher' position in life.
If finances should be a problem for a person wanting to further their education, in order to prepare for some field of work, or, that is, career, often there is assistance to be had
It is considered great progress that has brought women to this place in life, where they are being treated with respect and being able to follow their heart.
Even though this all appears to be so positive, their are thought patterns that either do not belong to the Daughters of God, or at the least need to be viewed under the light of God's Word.
For example, following your 'heart' should be understood by a Daughter of God, to refer to a heart that belongs to God and is guided and governed by Him; a heart that has made the decision to love the Lord with all that it is and has. A heart that dwells 'in' Him and he 'in' them. A person who belongs to God, should not follow their own ideas and plans, aside from the Savior.
The freedom to 'choose', should be understood, to mean to choose the way of the Lord.
And the choices of a daughter of God, should not be influenced by what the world thinks she should do; by it's drives nor it's condemnations. For us, it is not a matter of what the world thinks we should do, nor the course they feel we should follow. It is a matter of walking in the Spirit of God, so that we may live holy lives and do the will of our God. It is a matter of following God and His leading.
Am I suggesting that Daughter's of God cannot have careers as other women?
I am saying that each Daughter of God, should follow their King. That God and His will alone, is to be the deciding factor for their individual lives.
However the Word of God -HAS - made known some particulars of God's will for the women He created. There are some choices that He made, before He ever created woman, about the purpose for which He was creating her.
No matter what our individual ideas or fantasies, if we are going to follow God, it is imperative that we look to Him and find out what He has in mind for us.
If you have read the previous posts, you may have already encountered many of the things written in the Word of God concerning women. But you may, or may not have related these to careers for women.
We often think of a Career as the thing we do to earn a living, and for which we have particular training. The dictionary gives this meaning for career -
Career - 3. General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually applied to course or conduct which is
of a public character; as, Washington's career as a soldier.
[1913 Webster]
According to this definition, a career does not have to bring in an income. It is, however a course of action. It would be safe to say then, that it is the thing you give time and thought to. It is the course of action you pursue.
Pursuit - 2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
[1913 Webster]
In part one, we looked at the first thing any woman should pursue in her life; this being Jesus Christ himself and the knowledge of His Word.
In the story of Cati above, this is one thing she had not pursued. She had watched her mother's life to see what God would or would not do for her. But she had never tried to get to know God for herself or understand His heart. She made choices for her life for the purpose of self protection and success. It brought her no peace or satisfaction. She had tried to bury many things that had been put in her by her creator, so they would not hinder her from succeeding in her chosen course.
While this is only a story of fiction, it illustrates what happens far too often, in the lives of many women today.
Now go with me into the scriptures to look at those things written that pertain specifically to woman. Let's go to Genesis, where we are told the specific purpose of God in creating woman.
Gen. 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: ...
Gen. 2:18 - And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Because it was not good for the man to be alone, God made woman to be a HELP MEET for him!
I know that many women may not like this idea at all. Many may say "That thinking is out of date! Women have come far beyond such ideas!" But those of you who think this way, let me ask you a question. Are you willing and ready then, to say "I do not like God's reason for creating woman. I have come way beyond God and His ideas. I think His reasoning is oppressive and I am opposed to it. I know better than God?"
Ouch! Now that is strong! But if we reject what the Word of God says, we are acting in just such an arrogant and rebellious manner. - BUT WAIT! - Don't run away yet!
If you have read the post "Power to Complete", you may remember that when God said it wasn't good for the man to be 'alone', this word 'alone' actually meant - separation, by impl. a part of the body, branch of a tree … . It was not good for Adam to be only a part of the body, but not whole. He needed the other part that would complete him and the reflection of God on the earth.
Let us never devalue what God has done with great purpose, power and beauty. God who is wonderful beyond our comprehension chose to create an image and reflection of himself to live on this earth. To do so necessitated there being two who were one, as the Father and Son are one. It may be hard for us to fathom this oneness, but the clearest picture we will ever have of it's reality, until the day we see God face to face, is to be the picture of the man and woman; husband and wife.
When Adam saw his bride for the first time, he was looking at his own rib, his own flesh, and his own blood probably flowed through that flesh. While the woman was indeed an individual, yet at the same time she was a very real part of her husband. They truly were one flesh.
So the word 'alone' was more of an indication of man yet being incomplete or unfinished. Woman was the missing half of man, and was needed to complete the image of God.
Even so, many women today might not be comfortable with the idea that they were created to complete anything, rather than being complete in themselves; especially in a world that stresses individuality and self reliance.
In the Word of God, however, unity is one of the main messages. Jesus prayed to His Father to make His people to be 'one' as He and the Father are one.
John 17:11- And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
The people of God are called His 'church' and the Word teaches that we are individual parts of that 'one' body.
Col. 1:18- And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1 Cor. 12:20- But now are they many members, yet but one body.
God removed the wall of separation between the Jews and Gentiles in order to make 'one' new man. (Eph. 2:14+ 15)
And all who have been born again, who have received the seed of the Word of God are said to be a part of the body of Jesus himself.
Rom. 12:5 - So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Each individual part is important and of value, yet meant to be connected to the rest of the 'body' of Christ.
1 Cor. 12:21 - And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Each individual part is needed for the complete whole. Each must take care of itself, but it is invaluable to the rest of the body.
Yet all of this came after the creation of the man and woman. They were created to be a unit that is in the image and likeness of God before there were any other people to make up the church, or body of Christ. The man and woman were the first to each have individual function and purpose, while never to be without from the other.
Woman was created to be a help meet for her husband!
help meet- 5828 ezer; aid" - help.
Gen. 2:23+24 - 2:23 - And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
4 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Why 'shall' a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife?
Why would the man and his wife be one flesh?
Because (verse 23) Eve was taken out of Adam and was his flesh and bone. Adam, who had never seen a human mother, knew that after the creation of Eve, God was not going to put each man to sleep and take bone and flesh from him, from which to make his wife. After this, each man was to cleave to his wife and realize her to be a part of himself. God would see them to be one as surely as were Adam and Eve.
Then in Matthew the reason given, was said this way -
Matt. 19:4+5 - And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
You see, from the beginning, that is, the plan of God and what He did of His own will and design, was to make His image, the man, to be both male and female. It does not say that from the beginning God made a male and a female and told them to get married. It says he made them male and female. Adam was male and female, as God himself is the Father and the Son. This is made more clear in Gen. 5 -
Gen. 5:2 - Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name 8034-shem [Greek]) Adam, in the day when they were created.
shem (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) = : an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by impl. ... name ...
appellation 2. The act of calling by a name.
[1913 Webster]
3. The word by which a particular person or thing is called
and known; name; title; designation.
[1913 Webster]
God saw the man and wife as one; so much so, that he called them both by only one name. They both were called Adam. If God called that name, both could know to come to him. The woman, was not called Eve until after they had sinned and God had dealt with each of them. Then Adam called his wife Eve. (Gen. 3:20)
Some translations have changed this verse. But to do so they have had to leave the word 'shem' out of the verse, or translate it as "them" which is not at all accurate.
The word 'name' is the same word used when Adam called his son's name Seth. (Gen. 4:25)
The plan of God is clear. He created woman to be a help to the man, to complete him and the image of God. He intended them to be one. The man was to 'cleave' to his wife and the two to become one flesh.
Matt. 19:5 - And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave (5701) to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.
These were not mere suggestions, or options. This was the direct plan, purpose and design of God. We cannot reason it away!
So then, what is the goal that any woman should prepare for in her life? What is it that she should devote her time to learning about and understanding, so that she can be successful in the work God has planned for her to do? What should be her first and most important career? It is that which God created her for and designed her to be - A HELP MEET for her husband, which includes motherhood.
Even if you have had a bad experience in marriage, were abandoned by a spouse, have never had the opportunity to marry or any other situation, these facts will not change the plan and purpose of God.
If we recognize God's plan and design, and accept it as true, we may be better able to understand some things about ourselves, what we go through and why we feel as we do in certain situations.
Have you noticed that even the woman of the world, who chooses to stay single, have a career, travel the world, etc., finds she desires, either male companionship or at least sexual experience with a man/men. Women who are without a husband, will often desire children. Single women adopt. Gay women will sometimes have sex with a man simply for the purpose of becoming pregnant. Women,were created according to God's plan and purpose and the cry of His design will not go unheard!
Even in the gay community, where people have abandoned God's design, you often see couples with one acting more male and the other more female. The female acting male is often referred to as being 'butch'. With male couples, one will often appear fairly natural, or masculine, while the partner acts extremely feminine. Some will go so far as to dress like a woman and you might not know it was a man unless you were told. Though they have left God's plan and perverted His image, yet the idea of male and female being together, is never completely lost.
God so designed the woman, according to His purpose, that her very body, demands her attention and attests to God's plan. Every month their are hormone changes that take place, in preparation for receiving, from the man, life giving seed. Their womb is lined and readied to hold new life, feed, nurture and protect it. It doesn't matter if a woman has decided she doesn't want to be a mother. She will still have to deal with those hormone changes and the effects they have on her nervous system and her moods, as well as, sometimes, outward physical changes, such as swelling, breast tenderness, cramps or even tiredness.
When a woman is aroused sexually, her body will excrete a mucus, to lubricate her vagina, in preparation to receive the male, whether or not she has intercourse.
The plan of God will not go unnoticed. His design remains.
Satan has deceived the world into thinking that such things as marriage and motherhood are second in importance to the pursuit of a so-called career. Yet the purpose of God demands attention no matter where you are or what you are doing. When the need to be loved by the opposite sex arises, it does not always sound a warning ahead. When a womans menstruation comes around each month, it does not ask if it is a convenient time. When the need to feel sexy and/or attractive overwhelms you, it does not ask if the timing is right. Neither do you plan a specific time to feel a void in your life, you are unable to fill. It may slowly creep up on you until it weighs heavily, but it comes.
How much benefit there would be, if each woman, and especially every daughter of the King, would determine in her heart to see God's plan, His call, to be the career she applies herself to, before any other thing.
IF IT IS GOD'S DESIGN AND PLAN THEN IT IS SPIRITUAL!
Too often such things as marriage and motherhood, have been put under the classification of 'natural/fleshly' things as opposed to 'spiritual' things. This too, is a deception of the enemy to devalue what God himself has placed a high value on. He said it was 'very' good!
Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; MALE AND FEMALE CREATED HE THEM.
How could, God creating His own image, not be a spiritual matter?
Gen. 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was VERY GOOD. …
This word 'very' in the Hebrew means – prop. Vehemence, that is, (with or without prep.) vehemently; …
According to the Dictionary, 'vehement' means -
1 – showing great force or energy
2 – highly emotional
It seems that our God saw the creation of His image, the marriage, to be something of great value. It was not just a side thought. He did not just happen to notice Adam not having a mate and think it 'might' be a good idea to make him one. He had planned it to be so before he ever began to form man. He gave Adam male reproductive organs, knowing what he was to use them for. Sex? For the union of two parts, that together was an image and reflection of God! For the producing of children, born out of the love of two for each other. And God himself was VERY pleased with his plan and creation!
Satan hates seeing reflections of God on the earth, he seeks to dominate. SO he has spent great time and effort to devalue the things God himself designed, to pervert it and destroy it. It is, after all, a reminder of who will have the last say concerning his doom!
Being a HELP MEET for your husband is a great and honorable position. Why? Because it is living according to God's call for you. It is a place to begin the ministry God has called us to. It is an opportunity to do for another, some of what Jesus has done for us.
Think about it ladies. What are some of the things Christians ask of God?
Children of God often ask God to -
make us like Jesus
use us
help us to love as we should
give us a ministry
help us to make a difference
help us to die to self
help us to be giving
to give us eyes to see the needs of others
to edify
We often want to -
work for the Lord as counselors, in child ministry, youth ministry etc.
Yet all these things can first be practiced and learned in the marriage. God gives us one person who we can love and serve like no other. It is an opportunity to live, be and exercise the heart of God in the closest of relationships, next to our relationship with God himself.
Consider Jesus, our example. His reason for submitting to the will of his Father, was not because he was not equal to him.
Phil. 2:6- Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
He did not humble himself and become a human because he was worth no more. NO! He was God! He did these things by choice, in order to reach us and restore us to the Father - BECAUSE HE LOVED US!
2:7 - But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Do you want to be like Jesus? Here is your opportunity! Be the HELP MEET you were created to be.
Stop looking beyond your husband, for an opportunity to serve God and His people! It begins at home. This is where you study and practice how to love unconditionally, to die to self that another can live, how to pour out yourself in love for another; how to be a living epistle of Jesus Christ.
Here you learn how to obey and respect the one who is closest to you; the one who is part of you.
This does not mean that you will not be as one. Jesus who we submit ourselves to said this -
John 15:15 -Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Though we serve Him as our Lord, yet He calls us His friends and shares with us what His Father makes known to Him. he shares His heart with us!
Jesus submitted to His Father and yet look what His Father did -
Eph. 1:20 +21- Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 - Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
It was after Jesus had submitted to the will of the Father and gave His life for us, that God gave Him , again, this place of honor, praise and glory.
We are not better than our Lord!
Matt. 10:25- It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. ...
We say no one loves us, or understands us like Jesus, and yet we know we must obey and reverence Him. Why is it then, we should think, that if we are going to have a close relationship with our spouse, we should not have to obey or reverence him? It is in this exact relationship that we should first learn and practice these things, that the world can see the life that is hid with Christ in God, and see it in you.
Your husband is to be your provider and protector. He is you. He is ONE flesh with you. You should be proud of who and what he is. He is not only a head 'over' you, but your own head. THINK about it. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? - your head. When you look at your husband, you are looking at part of yourself. We need to stop thinking of marriage as simply two people who have agreed to have sex with no one else and who share a home. You are one flesh! ONE FLESH! And it is you, dear Daughter of the King, who is the help to that part of you, who has chosen to make you his own, to love, provide for and protect you all of his life! Take pride in your head! He is a part of you!
It is at home, with your husband that you learn and practice, how to live in partnership, how to edify another, how to support, comfort, help, share Jesus in a receivable way, be an intercessor, a friend, and to build up in the most holy faith. If you get it right here, in the marital relationship, it will flow out to the church and others.
Too often Christian women have it turned around. They think they must go to work in the church, or in the world, and call this 'the ministry' and that they must put their marital relationship as second place, to what they call 'working for the Lord, or 'the ministry'. But God said, in the very first book of the Bible, that he created you to be a HELP MEET, to your husband. He told you where your 'ministry' is to begin. Why then would you walk away from his first call on your life and think this was a service to Him? Obedience to God and doing things His way is always the right way!
Your husband is the person God has assigned you to. He is the one you are to have unity with. He is the one you are to HELP throughout life. Being given a husband is being given a great opportunity to live the things God requires of us and at the same time have a deep and intimate relationship.
You want to learn to truly submit to God? Submit to your husband.
You want to take up your cross daily and follow Christ? Die to self first in the closest relationship you have, your relationship with your husband.
You want to love like Christ? Start with your husband.
Learn to tap into the heartbeat of the one God has assigned you to. Learn to understand his heart, what makes him tick. Find out how to love him in a way that will help him to be all that God made him to be. Learn how to build up the man responsible for you. Learn how to encourage and motivate him who is a part of you and in so doing, build up yourself. Take joy and pride in his successes, his joy, his efforts in life. Learn to feel what he feels, to cry when he hurts to rejoice in his triumphs and joys.
Sound like a lot? Then this is not to be taken lightly or entered into haphazardly. This is a CAREER! And it is the one God created you for. You are not better suited to any other. But careers take study, time and effort.
2 Tim. 2:15- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Do you want victory in your life?
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit to His will for you! Stop seeking God for his will for your life, if you have not fully recognized that His first will for you is to be a HELP MEET to your husband. Submit to this call on your life first, then watch what God will do. When you are properly ministering in this capacity and the two of you are fulfilling the will of God as concerns your union together, then you can see God use you in mighty ways. For it is that -
Matt. 18:19- Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
How much power is there, then, when the two who are the image and reflection of God are asking of God, in agreement!?
A woman with POWER, is a woman walking in obedience to her King!
Do not be focused on building up self. Is that what Jesus did?
1 Pet. 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
And when Christ lifts you up, how precious it is!
When it is your husband who speaks highly of you and demands you are respected and honored, what a joy!
This thing was so important that the older women, in the Bible times were instructed to teach the younger women things they needed to know pertaining to their husbands, that the word of God would not be blasphemed!
Do you mean to see I could be busy in Christian service and yet be blaspheming the Word of God? Read the scriptures below and ask yourself, if you are living in obedience to what is written there.
Titus 2:3+4-3 - The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober(4994), to love(5362) their husbands, to love(5388)their children,
5 - To be discreet(4998), chaste(53), keepers at home(3626), good(18), obedient (5293)to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed (987).
There is power for the woman of God to live in, but it comes with obedience to God's plan and will; not in asking Him to bless our plans and our will.
With all that has been said, so far, I imagine their are many questions and perhaps even frustrations that have arose as a result. Some may be crying out, "But my husband isn't even serving the Lord! Or - "God hasn't even given me a husband" etc. And lastly, "How on earth do I live this? I don't know how to begin!
For now the important thing is to come into agreement with the Word of God, as the Daughters of the King. We know that we are to -
Matt. 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God's kingdom is the place where He rules. So we need to begin by coming into agreement with Him. If He has created women to be HELP MEETS, then we must start by agreeing with Him.
Then we can begin to seek Him as to how to fulfill this role and how to study and prepare for it. It is a career worth the study and work involved in mastering the art and moving up.
If you have never realized or been willing to acknowledge this important call of God, then this is the time to, first of all, repent, and then to seek God for the next step. If you have been saved very long, you may have already been learning through the Word and even messages preached, about how God wants us to live. Now start by turning your heart toward your husband, if you have one, and begin to practice what you have learned, with him.
If you have no husband at this time, then study for the career God designed you for now and prepare yourself. If you are old and never understood these things, learn now and pass it on to the next generation. If you are single, understanding Gods plan and purpose may help you to know why you feel and think as you do, and how to pray for his help. Study the Word of the King to whom you belong. He has answers for you there. Ask Him to teach you. Listen for His voice and say yes to Him.
Accept the will of God for His daughters.
Our Savior was an example of the life God requires of his Daughters.
You want to be like Jesus?
Be the HELP MEET he created you to be!
Just to get a little comfort! "She shifted again. Why did she have to feel so nauseated? It must be PMS; one of those lovely benefits of being a woman. A wry smile spread across her face. Then she was sober again. She suddenly realized that when she had thought of home, it was not her own apartment she longed for, but home where mother was. How could that be, when she had been so anxious to leave there and be on her own?
Suddenly Cati felt an uneasiness, as though someone had just crept up in the shadow of the tree, directly behind her. She ducked down, her face near the ground, then slowly turned to look behind her. Nothing was there. A slight breeze moved a thin branch overhead. Otherwise all was still and quiet. "Why doesn't somebody do something! This silence is driving me crazy! "
Again her thoughts went to her mother and how she had hurried to get away from her. One thing she had been sure of; she did not want to end up like her mother or hear about Jesus anymore. What did it get mom?" she whispered to herself. For three years while her father was away in the army, her mother had been faithful. She had applied herself to studying the Bible, praying, writing long letters and trying to encourage Cati to trust God and believe for her father's safe return. One week after receiving a letter, telling her mother that he had found someone else and was divorcing her, her father had been killed in action.
Even now Cati could feel the bitterness welling up and choking her. She tossed her head, as if she could shake it off, then tried to get her focus back on the situation at hand. She felt like she might throw up. She raised up trying to get a deep breath, then she felt it. The sound of it seemed to come after the fact. First it was pain, then heat; a deep fiery heat. She thought she could hear her mother's voice as she drifted into unconsciousness.
For two days, laying in a military hospital, her mind went here and there through time. One minute she was with Ted, another she was sitting at the table in her mother's home. Ted, dear Ted. He had seen things in Cati she didn't even see herself. He saw beauty and Cati didn't want to even be noticed. He loved her and believed in her and she never wanted to trust a man or be close to one. She never wanted to love as strongly as her mother or ever be hurt as deeply.
She joined the army and worked hard at being strong; at being equal to any man and self reliant. Ted had joined because she did. And till now, he had been able to stay pretty close. Mostly she avoided him. He brought out feelings, she did not want to have, so she tried to get through to him, she had no interest in him except as a buddy.
That is, until one evening a couple months ago, during a four day leave. They had hung out together, drank too much and gotten too close. Next morning she had slipped away and had refused to talk to him since. She had opened herself too much, allowing herself to be more vulnerable than she had ever intended to be. She had to make certain it never happened again!
Suddenly she felt like she was back in the ditch, only now she could hear bullets flying, non stop around her. She noticed how badly she smelled. Why do I have to have my period now, out here in this horrid war, and no water to even take care of myself? she thought. Her stomach ached, then she was nauseous, then she felt her mother massaging her shoulders and her voice was so comforting and close. She opened her eyes. A pretty nurse smiled down at her. "Good morning!" she said brightly.
"I am glad to see you finally wake up. "Where ...? Cati stopped and put her hand on her aching head. Does your head hurt? the nurse asked. "You hit it pretty hard, when you fell. I'll get you something for the pain" "Fell?" Yes. When you were shot, you fell back on a jagged rock. You are okay now and doing well. We got you here before you lost much blood. Even your baby is doing well. You will both make it just fine."
"Baby? " Cati closed her eyes again. She wanted to sleep; to escape it all. A thrill went through her against her will. "No!" her mind screamed! I don't want to have a baby! I don't want to have to love! I don't want to hurt! I want my career! I want to do what I want, when I want! She gritted her teeth, making an effort to get control of her thoughts. "Okay, I will have a baby. I'll get someone to take care of her so I can go forward with my career. I'll not let anything stop me! I will not be like my mother! I will not love like my mother! Tears began rolling down her cheeks and then uncontrollable sobs pushed their way up and out. "Oh mother! " She cried out. " I just want my mother!" And her heart defied her, saying, "If only I could be a strong woman like my MOTHER!"
What do you want to be when you grow up? This is a common question adults ask children. When it comes to little girls, these days, one might hear answers like; - a ballerina, a princess, a singer, an actress, a mama, a nurse, a doctor, or even a lawyer or any number of things that, in days gone by, might not have been available to women.
Today, many women are pursuing any number of career choices. If you ask women about there lives, you may hear something like this, "I am studying to get my degree to become a doctor and I am a wife and mother." I am a nurse and I'm married and I have two children." And so on. This is, after all, America, where women have the freedom to do what they want with their lives. Even in the church world, there are those who would highly disapprove of any woman not seeking a college education and some 'higher' position in life.
If finances should be a problem for a person wanting to further their education, in order to prepare for some field of work, or, that is, career, often there is assistance to be had
It is considered great progress that has brought women to this place in life, where they are being treated with respect and being able to follow their heart.
Even though this all appears to be so positive, their are thought patterns that either do not belong to the Daughters of God, or at the least need to be viewed under the light of God's Word.
For example, following your 'heart' should be understood by a Daughter of God, to refer to a heart that belongs to God and is guided and governed by Him; a heart that has made the decision to love the Lord with all that it is and has. A heart that dwells 'in' Him and he 'in' them. A person who belongs to God, should not follow their own ideas and plans, aside from the Savior.
The freedom to 'choose', should be understood, to mean to choose the way of the Lord.
And the choices of a daughter of God, should not be influenced by what the world thinks she should do; by it's drives nor it's condemnations. For us, it is not a matter of what the world thinks we should do, nor the course they feel we should follow. It is a matter of walking in the Spirit of God, so that we may live holy lives and do the will of our God. It is a matter of following God and His leading.
Am I suggesting that Daughter's of God cannot have careers as other women?
I am saying that each Daughter of God, should follow their King. That God and His will alone, is to be the deciding factor for their individual lives.
However the Word of God -HAS - made known some particulars of God's will for the women He created. There are some choices that He made, before He ever created woman, about the purpose for which He was creating her.
No matter what our individual ideas or fantasies, if we are going to follow God, it is imperative that we look to Him and find out what He has in mind for us.
If you have read the previous posts, you may have already encountered many of the things written in the Word of God concerning women. But you may, or may not have related these to careers for women.
We often think of a Career as the thing we do to earn a living, and for which we have particular training. The dictionary gives this meaning for career -
Career - 3. General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually applied to course or conduct which is
of a public character; as, Washington's career as a soldier.
[1913 Webster]
According to this definition, a career does not have to bring in an income. It is, however a course of action. It would be safe to say then, that it is the thing you give time and thought to. It is the course of action you pursue.
Pursuit - 2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
[1913 Webster]
In part one, we looked at the first thing any woman should pursue in her life; this being Jesus Christ himself and the knowledge of His Word.
In the story of Cati above, this is one thing she had not pursued. She had watched her mother's life to see what God would or would not do for her. But she had never tried to get to know God for herself or understand His heart. She made choices for her life for the purpose of self protection and success. It brought her no peace or satisfaction. She had tried to bury many things that had been put in her by her creator, so they would not hinder her from succeeding in her chosen course.
While this is only a story of fiction, it illustrates what happens far too often, in the lives of many women today.
Now go with me into the scriptures to look at those things written that pertain specifically to woman. Let's go to Genesis, where we are told the specific purpose of God in creating woman.
Gen. 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: ...
Gen. 2:18 - And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Because it was not good for the man to be alone, God made woman to be a HELP MEET for him!
I know that many women may not like this idea at all. Many may say "That thinking is out of date! Women have come far beyond such ideas!" But those of you who think this way, let me ask you a question. Are you willing and ready then, to say "I do not like God's reason for creating woman. I have come way beyond God and His ideas. I think His reasoning is oppressive and I am opposed to it. I know better than God?"
Ouch! Now that is strong! But if we reject what the Word of God says, we are acting in just such an arrogant and rebellious manner. - BUT WAIT! - Don't run away yet!
If you have read the post "Power to Complete", you may remember that when God said it wasn't good for the man to be 'alone', this word 'alone' actually meant - separation, by impl. a part of the body, branch of a tree … . It was not good for Adam to be only a part of the body, but not whole. He needed the other part that would complete him and the reflection of God on the earth.
Let us never devalue what God has done with great purpose, power and beauty. God who is wonderful beyond our comprehension chose to create an image and reflection of himself to live on this earth. To do so necessitated there being two who were one, as the Father and Son are one. It may be hard for us to fathom this oneness, but the clearest picture we will ever have of it's reality, until the day we see God face to face, is to be the picture of the man and woman; husband and wife.
When Adam saw his bride for the first time, he was looking at his own rib, his own flesh, and his own blood probably flowed through that flesh. While the woman was indeed an individual, yet at the same time she was a very real part of her husband. They truly were one flesh.
So the word 'alone' was more of an indication of man yet being incomplete or unfinished. Woman was the missing half of man, and was needed to complete the image of God.
Even so, many women today might not be comfortable with the idea that they were created to complete anything, rather than being complete in themselves; especially in a world that stresses individuality and self reliance.
In the Word of God, however, unity is one of the main messages. Jesus prayed to His Father to make His people to be 'one' as He and the Father are one.
John 17:11- And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
The people of God are called His 'church' and the Word teaches that we are individual parts of that 'one' body.
Col. 1:18- And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1 Cor. 12:20- But now are they many members, yet but one body.
God removed the wall of separation between the Jews and Gentiles in order to make 'one' new man. (Eph. 2:14+ 15)
And all who have been born again, who have received the seed of the Word of God are said to be a part of the body of Jesus himself.
Rom. 12:5 - So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Each individual part is important and of value, yet meant to be connected to the rest of the 'body' of Christ.
1 Cor. 12:21 - And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Each individual part is needed for the complete whole. Each must take care of itself, but it is invaluable to the rest of the body.
Yet all of this came after the creation of the man and woman. They were created to be a unit that is in the image and likeness of God before there were any other people to make up the church, or body of Christ. The man and woman were the first to each have individual function and purpose, while never to be without from the other.
Woman was created to be a help meet for her husband!
help meet- 5828 ezer; aid" - help.
Gen. 2:23+24 - 2:23 - And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
4 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Why 'shall' a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife?
Why would the man and his wife be one flesh?
Because (verse 23) Eve was taken out of Adam and was his flesh and bone. Adam, who had never seen a human mother, knew that after the creation of Eve, God was not going to put each man to sleep and take bone and flesh from him, from which to make his wife. After this, each man was to cleave to his wife and realize her to be a part of himself. God would see them to be one as surely as were Adam and Eve.
Then in Matthew the reason given, was said this way -
Matt. 19:4+5 - And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
You see, from the beginning, that is, the plan of God and what He did of His own will and design, was to make His image, the man, to be both male and female. It does not say that from the beginning God made a male and a female and told them to get married. It says he made them male and female. Adam was male and female, as God himself is the Father and the Son. This is made more clear in Gen. 5 -
Gen. 5:2 - Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name 8034-shem [Greek]) Adam, in the day when they were created.
shem (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) = : an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by impl. ... name ...
appellation 2. The act of calling by a name.
[1913 Webster]
3. The word by which a particular person or thing is called
and known; name; title; designation.
[1913 Webster]
God saw the man and wife as one; so much so, that he called them both by only one name. They both were called Adam. If God called that name, both could know to come to him. The woman, was not called Eve until after they had sinned and God had dealt with each of them. Then Adam called his wife Eve. (Gen. 3:20)
Some translations have changed this verse. But to do so they have had to leave the word 'shem' out of the verse, or translate it as "them" which is not at all accurate.
The word 'name' is the same word used when Adam called his son's name Seth. (Gen. 4:25)
The plan of God is clear. He created woman to be a help to the man, to complete him and the image of God. He intended them to be one. The man was to 'cleave' to his wife and the two to become one flesh.
Matt. 19:5 - And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave (5701) to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.
These were not mere suggestions, or options. This was the direct plan, purpose and design of God. We cannot reason it away!
So then, what is the goal that any woman should prepare for in her life? What is it that she should devote her time to learning about and understanding, so that she can be successful in the work God has planned for her to do? What should be her first and most important career? It is that which God created her for and designed her to be - A HELP MEET for her husband, which includes motherhood.
Even if you have had a bad experience in marriage, were abandoned by a spouse, have never had the opportunity to marry or any other situation, these facts will not change the plan and purpose of God.
If we recognize God's plan and design, and accept it as true, we may be better able to understand some things about ourselves, what we go through and why we feel as we do in certain situations.
Have you noticed that even the woman of the world, who chooses to stay single, have a career, travel the world, etc., finds she desires, either male companionship or at least sexual experience with a man/men. Women who are without a husband, will often desire children. Single women adopt. Gay women will sometimes have sex with a man simply for the purpose of becoming pregnant. Women,were created according to God's plan and purpose and the cry of His design will not go unheard!
Even in the gay community, where people have abandoned God's design, you often see couples with one acting more male and the other more female. The female acting male is often referred to as being 'butch'. With male couples, one will often appear fairly natural, or masculine, while the partner acts extremely feminine. Some will go so far as to dress like a woman and you might not know it was a man unless you were told. Though they have left God's plan and perverted His image, yet the idea of male and female being together, is never completely lost.
God so designed the woman, according to His purpose, that her very body, demands her attention and attests to God's plan. Every month their are hormone changes that take place, in preparation for receiving, from the man, life giving seed. Their womb is lined and readied to hold new life, feed, nurture and protect it. It doesn't matter if a woman has decided she doesn't want to be a mother. She will still have to deal with those hormone changes and the effects they have on her nervous system and her moods, as well as, sometimes, outward physical changes, such as swelling, breast tenderness, cramps or even tiredness.
When a woman is aroused sexually, her body will excrete a mucus, to lubricate her vagina, in preparation to receive the male, whether or not she has intercourse.
The plan of God will not go unnoticed. His design remains.
Satan has deceived the world into thinking that such things as marriage and motherhood are second in importance to the pursuit of a so-called career. Yet the purpose of God demands attention no matter where you are or what you are doing. When the need to be loved by the opposite sex arises, it does not always sound a warning ahead. When a womans menstruation comes around each month, it does not ask if it is a convenient time. When the need to feel sexy and/or attractive overwhelms you, it does not ask if the timing is right. Neither do you plan a specific time to feel a void in your life, you are unable to fill. It may slowly creep up on you until it weighs heavily, but it comes.
How much benefit there would be, if each woman, and especially every daughter of the King, would determine in her heart to see God's plan, His call, to be the career she applies herself to, before any other thing.
IF IT IS GOD'S DESIGN AND PLAN THEN IT IS SPIRITUAL!
Too often such things as marriage and motherhood, have been put under the classification of 'natural/fleshly' things as opposed to 'spiritual' things. This too, is a deception of the enemy to devalue what God himself has placed a high value on. He said it was 'very' good!
Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; MALE AND FEMALE CREATED HE THEM.
How could, God creating His own image, not be a spiritual matter?
Gen. 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was VERY GOOD. …
This word 'very' in the Hebrew means – prop. Vehemence, that is, (with or without prep.) vehemently; …
According to the Dictionary, 'vehement' means -
1 – showing great force or energy
2 – highly emotional
It seems that our God saw the creation of His image, the marriage, to be something of great value. It was not just a side thought. He did not just happen to notice Adam not having a mate and think it 'might' be a good idea to make him one. He had planned it to be so before he ever began to form man. He gave Adam male reproductive organs, knowing what he was to use them for. Sex? For the union of two parts, that together was an image and reflection of God! For the producing of children, born out of the love of two for each other. And God himself was VERY pleased with his plan and creation!
Satan hates seeing reflections of God on the earth, he seeks to dominate. SO he has spent great time and effort to devalue the things God himself designed, to pervert it and destroy it. It is, after all, a reminder of who will have the last say concerning his doom!
Being a HELP MEET for your husband is a great and honorable position. Why? Because it is living according to God's call for you. It is a place to begin the ministry God has called us to. It is an opportunity to do for another, some of what Jesus has done for us.
Think about it ladies. What are some of the things Christians ask of God?
Children of God often ask God to -
make us like Jesus
use us
help us to love as we should
give us a ministry
help us to make a difference
help us to die to self
help us to be giving
to give us eyes to see the needs of others
to edify
We often want to -
work for the Lord as counselors, in child ministry, youth ministry etc.
Yet all these things can first be practiced and learned in the marriage. God gives us one person who we can love and serve like no other. It is an opportunity to live, be and exercise the heart of God in the closest of relationships, next to our relationship with God himself.
Consider Jesus, our example. His reason for submitting to the will of his Father, was not because he was not equal to him.
Phil. 2:6- Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
He did not humble himself and become a human because he was worth no more. NO! He was God! He did these things by choice, in order to reach us and restore us to the Father - BECAUSE HE LOVED US!
2:7 - But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Do you want to be like Jesus? Here is your opportunity! Be the HELP MEET you were created to be.
Stop looking beyond your husband, for an opportunity to serve God and His people! It begins at home. This is where you study and practice how to love unconditionally, to die to self that another can live, how to pour out yourself in love for another; how to be a living epistle of Jesus Christ.
Here you learn how to obey and respect the one who is closest to you; the one who is part of you.
This does not mean that you will not be as one. Jesus who we submit ourselves to said this -
John 15:15 -Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Though we serve Him as our Lord, yet He calls us His friends and shares with us what His Father makes known to Him. he shares His heart with us!
Jesus submitted to His Father and yet look what His Father did -
Eph. 1:20 +21- Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 - Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
It was after Jesus had submitted to the will of the Father and gave His life for us, that God gave Him , again, this place of honor, praise and glory.
We are not better than our Lord!
Matt. 10:25- It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. ...
We say no one loves us, or understands us like Jesus, and yet we know we must obey and reverence Him. Why is it then, we should think, that if we are going to have a close relationship with our spouse, we should not have to obey or reverence him? It is in this exact relationship that we should first learn and practice these things, that the world can see the life that is hid with Christ in God, and see it in you.
Your husband is to be your provider and protector. He is you. He is ONE flesh with you. You should be proud of who and what he is. He is not only a head 'over' you, but your own head. THINK about it. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? - your head. When you look at your husband, you are looking at part of yourself. We need to stop thinking of marriage as simply two people who have agreed to have sex with no one else and who share a home. You are one flesh! ONE FLESH! And it is you, dear Daughter of the King, who is the help to that part of you, who has chosen to make you his own, to love, provide for and protect you all of his life! Take pride in your head! He is a part of you!
It is at home, with your husband that you learn and practice, how to live in partnership, how to edify another, how to support, comfort, help, share Jesus in a receivable way, be an intercessor, a friend, and to build up in the most holy faith. If you get it right here, in the marital relationship, it will flow out to the church and others.
Too often Christian women have it turned around. They think they must go to work in the church, or in the world, and call this 'the ministry' and that they must put their marital relationship as second place, to what they call 'working for the Lord, or 'the ministry'. But God said, in the very first book of the Bible, that he created you to be a HELP MEET, to your husband. He told you where your 'ministry' is to begin. Why then would you walk away from his first call on your life and think this was a service to Him? Obedience to God and doing things His way is always the right way!
Your husband is the person God has assigned you to. He is the one you are to have unity with. He is the one you are to HELP throughout life. Being given a husband is being given a great opportunity to live the things God requires of us and at the same time have a deep and intimate relationship.
You want to learn to truly submit to God? Submit to your husband.
You want to take up your cross daily and follow Christ? Die to self first in the closest relationship you have, your relationship with your husband.
You want to love like Christ? Start with your husband.
Learn to tap into the heartbeat of the one God has assigned you to. Learn to understand his heart, what makes him tick. Find out how to love him in a way that will help him to be all that God made him to be. Learn how to build up the man responsible for you. Learn how to encourage and motivate him who is a part of you and in so doing, build up yourself. Take joy and pride in his successes, his joy, his efforts in life. Learn to feel what he feels, to cry when he hurts to rejoice in his triumphs and joys.
Sound like a lot? Then this is not to be taken lightly or entered into haphazardly. This is a CAREER! And it is the one God created you for. You are not better suited to any other. But careers take study, time and effort.
2 Tim. 2:15- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Do you want victory in your life?
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit to His will for you! Stop seeking God for his will for your life, if you have not fully recognized that His first will for you is to be a HELP MEET to your husband. Submit to this call on your life first, then watch what God will do. When you are properly ministering in this capacity and the two of you are fulfilling the will of God as concerns your union together, then you can see God use you in mighty ways. For it is that -
Matt. 18:19- Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
How much power is there, then, when the two who are the image and reflection of God are asking of God, in agreement!?
A woman with POWER, is a woman walking in obedience to her King!
Do not be focused on building up self. Is that what Jesus did?
1 Pet. 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
And when Christ lifts you up, how precious it is!
When it is your husband who speaks highly of you and demands you are respected and honored, what a joy!
This thing was so important that the older women, in the Bible times were instructed to teach the younger women things they needed to know pertaining to their husbands, that the word of God would not be blasphemed!
Do you mean to see I could be busy in Christian service and yet be blaspheming the Word of God? Read the scriptures below and ask yourself, if you are living in obedience to what is written there.
Titus 2:3+4-3 - The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober(4994), to love(5362) their husbands, to love(5388)their children,
5 - To be discreet(4998), chaste(53), keepers at home(3626), good(18), obedient (5293)to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed (987).
There is power for the woman of God to live in, but it comes with obedience to God's plan and will; not in asking Him to bless our plans and our will.
With all that has been said, so far, I imagine their are many questions and perhaps even frustrations that have arose as a result. Some may be crying out, "But my husband isn't even serving the Lord! Or - "God hasn't even given me a husband" etc. And lastly, "How on earth do I live this? I don't know how to begin!
For now the important thing is to come into agreement with the Word of God, as the Daughters of the King. We know that we are to -
Matt. 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God's kingdom is the place where He rules. So we need to begin by coming into agreement with Him. If He has created women to be HELP MEETS, then we must start by agreeing with Him.
Then we can begin to seek Him as to how to fulfill this role and how to study and prepare for it. It is a career worth the study and work involved in mastering the art and moving up.
If you have never realized or been willing to acknowledge this important call of God, then this is the time to, first of all, repent, and then to seek God for the next step. If you have been saved very long, you may have already been learning through the Word and even messages preached, about how God wants us to live. Now start by turning your heart toward your husband, if you have one, and begin to practice what you have learned, with him.
If you have no husband at this time, then study for the career God designed you for now and prepare yourself. If you are old and never understood these things, learn now and pass it on to the next generation. If you are single, understanding Gods plan and purpose may help you to know why you feel and think as you do, and how to pray for his help. Study the Word of the King to whom you belong. He has answers for you there. Ask Him to teach you. Listen for His voice and say yes to Him.
Accept the will of God for His daughters.
Our Savior was an example of the life God requires of his Daughters.
You want to be like Jesus?
Be the HELP MEET he created you to be!
The Feminine Pursuit/Careers of Daughters of the King
Part One
Career - 3. General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually applied to course or conduct which is
of a public character; as, Washington's career as a soldier.
[1913 Webster]
Pursuit - 2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
[1913 Webster]
Dear woman; creation of the loving God, did you know that God has an opinion about you and your pursuits in life? The world may tell you that the whole world is open to you and that you can take your pick of careers and lifestyles, with nothing to hold you back! It may tell you that there are no longer any limitations. It is no longer a man's world'. The day of the oppressed woman is gone. And should anyone try to limit you, there are laws to protect your rights!
There was a time in history when women were not welcomed into just any type of occupation. Certain things were delegated to the males of our specie, that were off limits to women. At the same time the workings of the female mind might often have been considered but a mystery to many men.
Over time many changes have occurred! Now the world would have us think we can, not only be super women, but that we can even function superior to men! Although they considered all this to be good and a benefit to women, it has come at a price; not only the price that was paid in order to achieve the changes, but a price that is paid for taking advantage of some of these changes.
Yes, in the world there have been many changes, but the daughters of our Lord and Savor - ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD!
We are, as was the men and women of faith, we read about in the book of Hebrews were - STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON EARTH!
Heb. - Heb. 11:13 - ... confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
We are to do as Abraham did - Heb. 11:10 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The changes of laws and attitudes have opened doors for women here on earth, but though the world throw open it's arms and doors, the daughters of God, should look to their king, seek His kingdom and inquire of Him as to what direction their lives should go. For we are not of this world. We are travelers, on our way to an eternity in the presence of our God.
Our very thought patterns should be different from that of this world and it's system!
Rom. 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 Cor. 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Cor.7:23 - Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Even our bodies are God's. The world tries to tell us what sort of figures we should have and how we should dress. And too often, dear sisters, we have listened to them!
But it is to God we belong! It is God who has bought us and it is God we are to glorify!
1 Cor. 6:19 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
We need never be ashamed if we are different and do not look like the world or live like the world, when we are of a different world and the kingdom of our God. We are daughters of a king. Wouldn't you expect a princess to stand out a bit from others?
But there are preparations to be made for a daughter of the king, for the life she is to lead while yet on this earth.
We find that in the days of the Old Testament, before Esther was presented to her king, she had to go through a process of purification. Esther spent one year in preperation before being presented to her king.
Es. 2:2 - Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
Jesus purifies us when He saves us from our sins. But we need to prepare ourselves for the work He has for us to do as His own beloved daughters.
Before putting our minds to any other career or pursuit, we need to pursue Jesus himself!
The very first thing each woman needs, (as well as each man) to prepare for, in our lives, is our relationship with Jesus Christ. The first question for anyone to ask themselves, to see if they are ready for each new day, for the achievement of dreams and goals, now and in the future, is "Have I repented of all my sins, submitted all that I have and all that I am to Jesus and am I ready and willing to hear His voice and obey it?"
Not one other step in any direction, should be taken, until we are able to give a resounding , YES, in answer to these things. For it is our Savior who is the Word of God, who is -
Ps. 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
We will not go in the right direction for our lives until we are listening to the voice of our Lord and following the path He has prepared for us.
Know Jesus ,the Word of God, not the word of our society today nor religious traditions.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Rev. 19:3 - ... and his name is called The Word of God.
No other opinion or tradition, nor even legal allowances takes precedence over God!
Knowing, understanding and obeying the Word of God, can make all the difference in our lives. Fulfillment, satisfaction and joy, must begin with the Lord our Savior. All that we build in our lives must be built upon the foundation which is Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Cor. 3:11 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
To become a professional in any field, a person must study, pass exams and meet specific qualifications.
To live as a disciple of Christ, which every daughter of God is to be, we too must study. Without study of the Word of God, we can be forgiven of sin, but it is His Word that tells us what is sin and what is the good and acceptable thing in His sight.
2 Tim. 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We do not need to know the world's opinion but rather, the opinion of our God!
1 Cor. 1:20- Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
2 Cor. 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We will not go in the right direction for our lives until we are listening to the voice of our Lord and following the path He has prepared for us.
Before a woman considers any other course of study, in an effort to prepare for her career in life, the study of the Word of God must come first. Everything we set out to do in our lives, is to be done according to the will of God. We can only know His will if we know His Word. There are so many voices out there today. Parents, teachers, professors, preachers, tel - evangelists, the status quo and so on. We are told we need to make our own choices for our lives. But for the daughter of God, that is only within the perimeters of the Word of God!
Matt. 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2 Thes. 3:5 - And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Scripture is clear that the first thing we are to seek, is not self satisfaction, acceptance, popularity, financial success, a life partner or even a career. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, THEN and only then, all that we should have, will be added to us! As we seek, yet we need to allow the Lord to DIRECT OUR HEART 'into' the love of God and INTO the patient WAITING for Christ.
If we can seek, then let Him direct our hearts; not attempt to direct them ourselves, but let Him do the work. He will direct us first and foremost into His love! What a safe place to be and to live, IN HIS LOVE!! If we know what manner of love the Father has for us, we can wait patiently for Christ to have His way in us, and to one day come for us!
1Jo. 3:1- Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The word 'sons' here, in the Greek was teknon, meaning - a child (as produced): - child, daughter, son.
It is because of the love the Father has bestowed on us, that we can be called the daughters of God and it is because we are the daughters of God that the world does not know us. It did not know our God and it will not know His daughters or sons. Why then should we look to the world to determine how we should live and what we should expect of ourselves and our lives? Our standards, our purpose, our focus, and our goals, are all determined by who we belong to and the reason for which we were created. All of this, the world neither knows or understands.
Our actions should be determined by the love that is in us. When a man and woman are in love with each other, no one else can comprehend their relationship or the motivation for their actions toward each other. Oh others may understand that it is love, but they cannot comprehend a love they have not experienced. It is unique, personal and private. It is their own. Nor can the world comprehend the relationship we have with our God and how that relationship motivates us to live.
At salvation we enter a love relationship that should motivate all that we say and do. It is to be a consuming love. And our life is to be -
Col. 3:3 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
It stands to reason, then, that our first course of study and preparation, as women of God, ought to be the study of the Word of God. Our first and foremost focus should be our Lord and Savior. And the course for our life should be determined by the lover of our souls.
THIS IS OUR FIRST PURSUIT AS DAUGHTERS OF GOD!
We will never be more beautiful than when we are living as God created us to do!
The next pursuit of our lives, was planned by our God for us. His Word tells us of His plan and purpose. Part two, is vital to each woman's understanding of herself and her life as God's daughter.
Part One
Career - 3. General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually applied to course or conduct which is
of a public character; as, Washington's career as a soldier.
[1913 Webster]
Pursuit - 2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
[1913 Webster]
Dear woman; creation of the loving God, did you know that God has an opinion about you and your pursuits in life? The world may tell you that the whole world is open to you and that you can take your pick of careers and lifestyles, with nothing to hold you back! It may tell you that there are no longer any limitations. It is no longer a man's world'. The day of the oppressed woman is gone. And should anyone try to limit you, there are laws to protect your rights!
There was a time in history when women were not welcomed into just any type of occupation. Certain things were delegated to the males of our specie, that were off limits to women. At the same time the workings of the female mind might often have been considered but a mystery to many men.
Over time many changes have occurred! Now the world would have us think we can, not only be super women, but that we can even function superior to men! Although they considered all this to be good and a benefit to women, it has come at a price; not only the price that was paid in order to achieve the changes, but a price that is paid for taking advantage of some of these changes.
Yes, in the world there have been many changes, but the daughters of our Lord and Savor - ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD!
We are, as was the men and women of faith, we read about in the book of Hebrews were - STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON EARTH!
Heb. - Heb. 11:13 - ... confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
We are to do as Abraham did - Heb. 11:10 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The changes of laws and attitudes have opened doors for women here on earth, but though the world throw open it's arms and doors, the daughters of God, should look to their king, seek His kingdom and inquire of Him as to what direction their lives should go. For we are not of this world. We are travelers, on our way to an eternity in the presence of our God.
Our very thought patterns should be different from that of this world and it's system!
Rom. 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 Cor. 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Cor.7:23 - Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Even our bodies are God's. The world tries to tell us what sort of figures we should have and how we should dress. And too often, dear sisters, we have listened to them!
But it is to God we belong! It is God who has bought us and it is God we are to glorify!
1 Cor. 6:19 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
We need never be ashamed if we are different and do not look like the world or live like the world, when we are of a different world and the kingdom of our God. We are daughters of a king. Wouldn't you expect a princess to stand out a bit from others?
But there are preparations to be made for a daughter of the king, for the life she is to lead while yet on this earth.
We find that in the days of the Old Testament, before Esther was presented to her king, she had to go through a process of purification. Esther spent one year in preperation before being presented to her king.
Es. 2:2 - Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
Jesus purifies us when He saves us from our sins. But we need to prepare ourselves for the work He has for us to do as His own beloved daughters.
Before putting our minds to any other career or pursuit, we need to pursue Jesus himself!
The very first thing each woman needs, (as well as each man) to prepare for, in our lives, is our relationship with Jesus Christ. The first question for anyone to ask themselves, to see if they are ready for each new day, for the achievement of dreams and goals, now and in the future, is "Have I repented of all my sins, submitted all that I have and all that I am to Jesus and am I ready and willing to hear His voice and obey it?"
Not one other step in any direction, should be taken, until we are able to give a resounding , YES, in answer to these things. For it is our Savior who is the Word of God, who is -
Ps. 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
We will not go in the right direction for our lives until we are listening to the voice of our Lord and following the path He has prepared for us.
Know Jesus ,the Word of God, not the word of our society today nor religious traditions.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Rev. 19:3 - ... and his name is called The Word of God.
No other opinion or tradition, nor even legal allowances takes precedence over God!
Knowing, understanding and obeying the Word of God, can make all the difference in our lives. Fulfillment, satisfaction and joy, must begin with the Lord our Savior. All that we build in our lives must be built upon the foundation which is Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Cor. 3:11 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
To become a professional in any field, a person must study, pass exams and meet specific qualifications.
To live as a disciple of Christ, which every daughter of God is to be, we too must study. Without study of the Word of God, we can be forgiven of sin, but it is His Word that tells us what is sin and what is the good and acceptable thing in His sight.
2 Tim. 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We do not need to know the world's opinion but rather, the opinion of our God!
1 Cor. 1:20- Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
2 Cor. 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We will not go in the right direction for our lives until we are listening to the voice of our Lord and following the path He has prepared for us.
Before a woman considers any other course of study, in an effort to prepare for her career in life, the study of the Word of God must come first. Everything we set out to do in our lives, is to be done according to the will of God. We can only know His will if we know His Word. There are so many voices out there today. Parents, teachers, professors, preachers, tel - evangelists, the status quo and so on. We are told we need to make our own choices for our lives. But for the daughter of God, that is only within the perimeters of the Word of God!
Matt. 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2 Thes. 3:5 - And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Scripture is clear that the first thing we are to seek, is not self satisfaction, acceptance, popularity, financial success, a life partner or even a career. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, THEN and only then, all that we should have, will be added to us! As we seek, yet we need to allow the Lord to DIRECT OUR HEART 'into' the love of God and INTO the patient WAITING for Christ.
If we can seek, then let Him direct our hearts; not attempt to direct them ourselves, but let Him do the work. He will direct us first and foremost into His love! What a safe place to be and to live, IN HIS LOVE!! If we know what manner of love the Father has for us, we can wait patiently for Christ to have His way in us, and to one day come for us!
1Jo. 3:1- Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The word 'sons' here, in the Greek was teknon, meaning - a child (as produced): - child, daughter, son.
It is because of the love the Father has bestowed on us, that we can be called the daughters of God and it is because we are the daughters of God that the world does not know us. It did not know our God and it will not know His daughters or sons. Why then should we look to the world to determine how we should live and what we should expect of ourselves and our lives? Our standards, our purpose, our focus, and our goals, are all determined by who we belong to and the reason for which we were created. All of this, the world neither knows or understands.
Our actions should be determined by the love that is in us. When a man and woman are in love with each other, no one else can comprehend their relationship or the motivation for their actions toward each other. Oh others may understand that it is love, but they cannot comprehend a love they have not experienced. It is unique, personal and private. It is their own. Nor can the world comprehend the relationship we have with our God and how that relationship motivates us to live.
At salvation we enter a love relationship that should motivate all that we say and do. It is to be a consuming love. And our life is to be -
Col. 3:3 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
It stands to reason, then, that our first course of study and preparation, as women of God, ought to be the study of the Word of God. Our first and foremost focus should be our Lord and Savior. And the course for our life should be determined by the lover of our souls.
THIS IS OUR FIRST PURSUIT AS DAUGHTERS OF GOD!
We will never be more beautiful than when we are living as God created us to do!
The next pursuit of our lives, was planned by our God for us. His Word tells us of His plan and purpose. Part two, is vital to each woman's understanding of herself and her life as God's daughter.
Proverbs 31 Woman
Dissolving the Myth
Prov. 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
2 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens
16 She considereth a field, and buyet) a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength), and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed in scarlet .
22 She maketh coverings of tapestry ; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the
merchant.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
DISSOLVING THE MYTH CONCERNING THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN
Probably one of the first thoughts, for many, concerning the Prov. 31 woman, is that she is a stay at home mom, or a housewife. This may automatically bring to mind a certain stereotype of what a housewife looks like, and what her life is like. For many this means a very limited woman who lives within certain perimeters, in which she lives in a certain bondage, unable to develop and use many of her talents and a woman who must lay aside personal dreams and ambitions.
But what does a Prov. 31 woman really look like?
Surprising though it may be, she is a woman of amazing strength, for the scriptures tell us that she is virtuous.
It may pay to note the fact that when, for example, the King James Bible was translated into English, the people of that day understood certain English words to have meanings quite different, than the meanings they have for us today. While we may think of a virtuous woman as being someone who has moral virtue, which has to do with living in a morally right way, the Hebrew word from which the translation 'virtuous' was taken, in Prov. 31: 10, has quite a different meaning altogether. The original Hebrew word was chayil, and the meaning given in the Strong's Concordance (Bible dictionary) does not primarily speak of morality. Take a look at the meaning of virtuous in this scripture.
VIRTUOUS 2428 (Strong's) chayil, khah'-yil; prob. A force, whether of men, means or other recourses; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:-able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces ...
The writer of Prov. 31, tells his son that a man who finds a virtuous woman, finds a woman whose value is far above that of rubies.
Clearly he is not instructing his son, to find a frail, weak little woman who will be unable to do little more than cook, clean and watch over the children.
He is apparently speaking of a woman with tremendous strength. Notice some of the descriptive words, given in the definition of a virtuous woman. “A force, ... an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength”...
Notice also the words – able, activity (+) army, ... great forces …
Does this surprise you? Have you ever realized that the writer was speaking of a woman of strength?
If you were to look at this verse in the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, you would find “A good wife who can find it?”
I find this a sad, misleading translation, leaving it to the readers own ideas of what a 'good” wife is, and giving no idea of the power of the actual word which was being spoken by the writer to his son.
Next he tells him that the heart of a husband of such a woman, is able to trust in her, or we might say that he can trust her with all of his heart. He can trust that he will have no need of spoil. Or we might say that he is able to trust her with all that is his, knowing that nothing that belongs to him will be ruined, wasted or mishandled by her. He knows that she will do him good, even with all that is his, and will do him no evil all the days of his life.
He can leave her in charge of his estate, which now belongs to her as well, assured that she will handle things wisely and carefully; always mindful that the authority she has over HIS household, which, is now, HER household as well, is subject to him and his authority.
(Remember 1 Timothy 5:14 and Titus 2:5))
Verse 13 shows this woman using her mind, her wisdom, her ingenuity and her skill. She would have no skill had she not applied herself to learning that skill, or that is, educating herself in matters that would benefit her life and that of her husband and family.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
The word 'seeketh' here, means (Strong's) to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search) ...
The word 'willingly means (Strong's) pleasure … acceptable, delight (-some) … purpose, willingly.
So here we see that the virtuous woman, at the time these scriptures were written, was described as going out and finding the wool and flax she wanted. It could be that she would go out among her husband's flocks and look over the quality of the wool to choose the best for her purpose. Or if her husband was not raising sheep, she could go out into the market place, or search for those who raised sheep with superior wool. The idea of 'treading or frequenting, hints to me of the possibility that she did not just go pick up the first wool she found, but perhaps shopped around, or, that is, she went out frequently or often, until she found what she wanted. She could even have went out and checked the flock, then waited for those with the best wool to be ready for shearing; checking back often until she was satisfied with which sheep's wool she would take.
Whatever the case. I believe we can see that this woman sought out the wool, rather than just picking up something that would be quick. This wool and flax was going to become the fabric her family wore. As we will see she valued her family and her ministry, first and foremost was to them. I believe that what they wore was not only going to be good and pleasing for them but would also represent the value she placed upon them.
We see that the virtuous woman had taken the time to acquire a skill. Whether it was taught her by her mother, which would be likely, or some other way. She had spent the time learning this skill and now she used it for the provision of her family. She took what was provided by her husband, her head, her provider; whether the wool from his flocks or the funds she needed, then she applied herself and caused it to increase. She took the time, and used her 'know how' to make sure that she took what was provided her, and used it in a wise way to produce more.
Notice that she worked willingly with her hands. This was not a task that she dreaded. She had purpose for what she was doing. She found this work both acceptable and pleasurable. She was being creative and could take pride in the finished product and what it was going to do for her family.
Already we can see that this woman did not sit around a house, reading a book and filling herself with fattening snacks. She had a skill. She had a knowledge of the product she needed for the job at hand. She found pleasure in her creative task. She was a busy lady.
But that was not all.
14 She is like the merchant's ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
No running to McDonald's here! Even the food her family was to eat, was planned and deliberate.
You might be thinking, “We could not really do that! No one would have the time to travel the world just to buy groceries! Surely this is not a literal example for us!
I think the reality may have been, that she either found out which ships were coming in and carrying what, by taking the time to make a visit herself, or perhaps had a servant (possibly hired servant or worker) to get this information for her. Just as today, we can look at adds in the newspaper, call various stores, find out if there are any flee markets selling fresh produce nearby or within a distance worth traveling to etc. What is to be noted is that she thought about, planned and prepared for the food that her family was going to be eating.
In our day and age, a woman even has access to the internet, where she can find out what types of food would be healthy for her family. A woman can take time to plan a healthy diet and to some extent consider what would be her healthiest choices in feeding her household.
So evidently, the virtuous woman described in Prov. 31, applied herself to seeing that her family had the best she could provide for them, with the provisions her husband, (provider) had provided for her. She was not wasteful but made her money and her abilities, work for the good of her family.
15 She riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
The virtuous woman is an early riser. She is up before the sun is out, seeing to it that her household has their breakfast. I doubt it is suggesting that she wakes everyone in the middle of the night. But she has food ready for them to start them on their way each day. Notice that though she does have maidens, or, that is, women who work for her, she has not required them to be up before her, getting the breakfast ready. This is a responsibility she takes on herself. Even her maidens receive a portion. Perhaps she wants to be sure that even they have what they need and do not neglect themselves in their service to her. But what ever her reasons might be, what we have depicted for us here, is a woman who takes every aspect of the care of her family and those who work for her, seriously. She values them and sees to it their needs are met. She does not pass this responsibility on to others.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
I love this verse and all that it tells us about the virtuous woman and her relationship with her husband!
Here we find the virtuous woman going out, looking over a piece of land and buying it. Notice the scripture does not say that she took the matter to her husband to obtain his permission to make this purchase.
Surely king Lemuel was not telling his son, that it would be good to marry a woman who does whatever she wants, without considering her husbands opinion or wishes. After all the man is responsible as the head of his home, for major decision that are made. Purchasing land would be a pretty large decision, especially if her purpose was to turn it into a vineyard. There would be a lot involved in having a vineyard and all that must be done to care for the crop.
However, remember that we have already read that this woman's husband safely trusts in his wife. This then, would suggest that she has her husband's interest in mind and knows that what she is doing will please him. Either they have already discussed such an endeavor and her husband has sent her on this mission, or she knows that he has given her the freedom to make such decisions for their family.
She has enough understanding of what is needed for such an undertaking. She has enough business sense to make a good purchase. She knows what kind of land would be good for a vineyard. And she has what she needs to get the field turned into a vineyard, including preparation of the soil and planting of the vines.
This woman has done her research!
And look at what she used to get the job done! “... with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
The meaning for 'with' (Strong's) is “… from or out of …” And the meaning for 'fruit' (Strong's) is “ ...fruit … reward”
She has accomplished things that bore fruit, or that is, perhaps made her an increase of money. So she is able to get the vineyard planted using the 'fruit' or rewards of her own accomplishment. If we look ahead to verse 24, we find that she made and sold girdles (The meaning for 'girdles' being :-girded with [Strong's])
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and deliverth girdles unto the merchant.
Exactly what these were, I am not certain, whether belts or sashes or some other type of garment. But the point is that she actually made items for sale. She was a business woman. All that she did could be done from her home. She did not neglect the slightest need of her family. But she was able to create an item for sale. Her materials may well have come from her husband's provision of animals for wool, from which she could make these garments, or from money he supplied. But she herself brought in an increase and from THIS, she was able to get a vineyard planted from which could be derived an even greater increase.
I do not believe the scripture is suggesting that she literally planted the vineyard with her own two hands, although she could have done some of it. But more importantly, she had the resources to get it planted, or that is, perhaps hire workers to do the job, because of the work she had already done willingly with her hands, and this work had bore fruit, or earned an increase.
Notice also that she dealt with the merchant herself. This does not sound like a timid push over. She must have know the quality of her merchandise and how to make the right deals in selling it.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She had worked diligently, even past daylight, making a product that she knew was good.
The word 'merchandise' here means (Strong's) “profit (from trade): - merchandise.”
So either it is saying that she knows she has made a good profit, or that because of the quality of her product, she knows it will bring a good profit. Surely both would be true.
This woman is not haphazard in what she does. She is diligent.
The fact that her own candle is burning as she works past daylight, let's us know she is working from home. She may have been out and about getting her materials and doing business, but she creates her product at home.
She can take pride in her work, and so can her husband. When people speak of the product his wife makes and sells, he will hear words that make him proud.
The fact that her own candle is burning as she works past daylight, let's us know she is working from home. She may have been out and about getting her materials and doing business, but she creates her product at home.
She can take pride in her work, and so can her husband. When people speak of the product his wife makes and sells, he will hear words that make him proud.
Along with all else that she makes, her own family is provided for in a way that reflects both her love for them and their value.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for ALL her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
The virtuous woman thinks ahead and plans for the cold weather. She has made all who are in her household, clothing that will keep them warm when the snow comes and is ready without worry.
She dresses herself in a way that bespeaks of royalty. This may not be because she is trying to lift herself above others, but because she values herself, and even more importantly, she knows that she represents the man she is married too, who she respects and wants to represent well.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
So it may be that she dresses in a manner that will reflect the importance of her husband, or it may be telling us, that because of the things this woman does for her family and the husband she loves and respects, and because of the fine way she presents herself, SHE MAKES HER HUSBAND LOOK GOOD!
After all a man who has such a wife, must be a man of value!
Be honest, if you had a fine, outstanding husband, would it not reflect on you? Would you not feel honored that he had chosen you?
She is clearly not all about self importance, for she works hard for those she loves. She is considerate of those who work for her. And we are told -
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
With all of her skill, all of her business savvy, and all the beautiful things she provides for her family; with all that she does with respect and honor of her husband, the virtuous woman is a humble woman! She reaches out to those in need rather that being stingy and hording what she has produced all to herself.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
The virtuous woman is not a lazy busybody, going from house to house to gossip and waste time. Her words are words of wisdom and kindness. Perhaps she even encourages the poor and needy in ways they too can make improvements and better their circumstances, where possible.
Yes though she wears silk and purple, though she is accomplished and skilled, yet her true beauty, true clothing, or that is, what covers her, or what is seen by others when they look at her, and the thing that protects her, as clothing protects us from outward exposure IS -
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
This brings to mind, the scripture in the New Test. where the writer addresses the adorning of the woman. Adorning being, orderly arrangement, that is, decoration (Strong's).
1 Peter 3:3&4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or of putting on apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
The writer is not saying that a woman should never plait her hair, any more than he is saying that she should never put on apparel, which is clothes. What he IS saying, is that her true beauty should not be these things. Her real beauty is to be what comes from her heart. What she has inside of her; those matters of her true heart, should be the things that are reflected in what she does in her life. These should be the things that people see as beautiful.
For the virtuous woman, what is seen as her covering and the thing that beautifies her, is strength and honor. Not weakness, frailty and lack of ability.
As has been talked about in a previous chapter, the way in which she is weaker than the man, has more to do with physique, and perhaps the nature of her sensitive wiring needed for the internal ministering she is designed to do. But in many ways, and in ways that are to be so obvious as to be her very clothing, or what is seen by all, is to be STRENGTH and HONOR.
This brings to mind, the scripture in the New Test. where the writer addresses the adorning of the woman. Adorning being, orderly arrangement, that is, decoration (Strong's).
1 Peter 3:3&4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or of putting on apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
The writer is not saying that a woman should never plait her hair, any more than he is saying that she should never put on apparel, which is clothes. What he IS saying, is that her true beauty should not be these things. Her real beauty is to be what comes from her heart. What she has inside of her; those matters of her true heart, should be the things that are reflected in what she does in her life. These should be the things that people see as beautiful.
For the virtuous woman, what is seen as her covering and the thing that beautifies her, is strength and honor. Not weakness, frailty and lack of ability.
As has been talked about in a previous chapter, the way in which she is weaker than the man, has more to do with physique, and perhaps the nature of her sensitive wiring needed for the internal ministering she is designed to do. But in many ways, and in ways that are to be so obvious as to be her very clothing, or what is seen by all, is to be STRENGTH and HONOR.
She may work hard for her family and sometimes be physically weary, but the result of all she has applied herself to, will be cause for rejoicing in the future!
This is not the picture of a woman who tries to impress others with her education and outward appearance and spends all of her time in acquiring more and more money to heap upon herself more and more finery, while putting her children and husband on the back burner in her pursuit of selfish gain. This woman's true beauty is in her strength of character, strength of heart and faith, the strength of her love and devotion to those God has given her. She – 27 “...looketh well to the ways of her household …:
The virtuous woman is a woman who (17) “… girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.”
We might say, that she strengthens herself in all the areas needed to carry out the task that is set for her to accomplish.
28 Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth (...morally reverent... [Strong's]) the Lord, she shall be praised.
Here we reach the secret of this woman's motivation and the source of her strength!
She reveres the Lord. What she does is done in reverence to him! And we know that a New Testament virtuous woman can do all things through Christ who strengthens her!
She reveres the Lord. What she does is done in reverence to him! And we know that a New Testament virtuous woman can do all things through Christ who strengthens her!
Why can her husband trust her?
He knows who it is that she serves!
He knows she honors him as her head; her provider and protective covering!
He knows what is the source of her strength and motivation!
He knows that she is one with him and they are unified in purpose and goal!
He knows she is a part of him, not someone seeking separate goals and purposes that have nothing to do with him.
He knows her skills, talents and even her wiring is in many ways different from his own and yet work in agreement with him and his.
He knows that where two or three agree as touching anything in the name of Jesus, it can and will be done!
He knows that the love of God, flows from her to all he has given her.
He knows she is intelligent and capable.
He knows he has a wife of virtue, strength and heart!
And yet even reading this may leave some of you feeling overwhelmed. You may think this to be a beautiful picture of a fabulous woman, but a picture that leaves you feeling small and insignificant.
First let me assure you that the virtuous woman would not likely do all these things at the same times. In the summer, she may have a garden and look for land to be planted. Each of these things may have had a week or more devoted to them. Searching for land for a week or more, tending the arrangements to get it planted and cared for taking another week or more.
A few days may have been designated just for finding out what the ships would be bringing in and and when, etc.
It may have been fall, when the sheep were ready for shearing, that she began to seek out the best wool, then began weaving for a couple of hours in the evening.
Sewing may have been done in winter when weather restricted her more in doors.
And her girdles may have been sold in the spring, after she had many already made up and ready.
The point is not to say that the virtuous woman did all of these things, all the time. This would have been impossible. But with careful planning, the guidance of the Lord and a motivated, willing heart, a woman can accomplish much, for the good of those God places in her care.
She can learn skills and gain business understanding, without having to go to a public job that takes her away from young children who God has entrusted her with.
In our day and age, some of what a virtuous woman does may be different, yet she can find ways to take what her provider puts in her hands and make it to multiply and bring forth fruit.
Consider too, that many a woman today works eight hours a day on a public job, and may be gone from home approx. nine hours per day with travel time. If she can do this, there would be plenty of time to accomplish many things for her family if she had that same amount of time at home, or, that is, free for doing things directed toward her family.
Women are providers in their own right. They can take a house and make it a home. They can take a new, innocent, pure child, and nurture, protect, teach and guide until it becomes another virtuous woman or an fine man of God.
She can be a partner in the dreams, plans and goals of her husband; working with and for him and her own God given purpose in life.
Woman is neither to be limited to being a trinket, whose only ability and purpose is to be dominated and played with, nor is she to function separate and aside from the purpose of her husband and the God given responsibility to her children.
When God made woman, he made a good thing. She was the finishing touch to the image of God, which required that Adam not be singular, but a plural unit.
Whatever you do, do not limit yourself to a life of bondage nor mediocrity.
Whatever you do, do not think you have to function as a man to be of equal value.
Whatever you do, do not think you have to live your life according to the worlds view of what is important.
You do not have to be like nor outdo the Jones.
What you need to do is be a woman, a wife, a mother, anointed of God and following His will; doing what He has designed you to do.
The virtuous woman worked, produced, bought, sold and provided for her family, taking what her provider provided and causing it to multiply. She was creative and able. She was a woman of strength. All she did, was for the good of her family. Her children learned from her example.
Now we can pray and ask God to guide us, motivated us and show us how to apply these examples to our own life.
Each woman's path may not look exactly alike, but all should fit within the perimeters of the Word of God and the instructions found there.
Do not be discouraged! Let God open your life up to great possibilities! You have a God given purpose! You have God given potential. Lay your life at the Saviors feet in full surrender to his will for your life. Let him lift you up, hug you, and set your feet to dancing down a path of adventure and creativity greater than you have yet known !The future is bright for a daughter of the king!
A woman of virtue!
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