I know this note from a dear brother will bless many.
> I appreciated the article. I have several young women in my family (5 daughters, aged 15-21) all of which are in the process of defining who they are and what defines their value. I recently was impressed to write them a few letters to help them in this process. The three things I exhorted them on were: > > 1) Nurture a respectful, yet vibrant spirit > > 2) Embrace Gods definition of true beauty > > 3) Glory in the Lord > > > > Below is a portion of my letter to them on point #2. I share it with you for your edification, and as an amen to your loving and helpful exhortation to us all in this article on de-liberated women (who really are the Free). > > > > Dave > > > > One contemporary author has set forth the idea that one of Gods purposes in creating woman was to place the crowning touch of beauty on His creation: that the Beauty that exists and finds its origins in Him alone is most fully expressed in Eve, and in her daughters. I think that that author is on to something. In Adam (and men, in general), certain of Gods qualities are set on prominent display such as strength, courage, vision the traits of God that we categorize as masculine. Yet in Eve (womankind), the feminine qualities are set forth: gentleness, softness, nurture, etc. Now, dont be mistaken: just as there is nothing worse to meet than a mother bear robbed of her cubs, Eve can fight! And fight she must. Here again, we see that femininity is not passivity. But lets just accept the truth that He made them male and female. Yet both feminine and masculine have their origins in God Himself. (Know for a surety that in our day there is a spiritual assault on even this very distinction that of the distinction between the sexes. But that is a discussion for another day.) The Lord goes forth like a mighty man,
like a man of war: He shall cry, yea roar, He shall prevail against His enemies. (Is 42:13. Yet our Lord Jesus wept over Jerusalem, wanting to gather her like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. > > > > But as we looked at last time, the qualities and strengths bestowed upon us can be misused (like our pastors wife, who chewed up men and spit them out) . So, to get to the point of this mornings meditation, lets select two teaching passages in the NT: > > > > 1 Tim 2: 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. > > 1 Pet 3:1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But 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. 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. > > There is implicit in these two passages one from Paul and one from Peter an indication of where women face a great (if not their greatest) battle. As men are tempted to trust in their strength, wisdom, or riches (see Jer 9:23, 24), women are tempted to place their trust in their beauty to save them: to provide them a feeling of completeness, to give them their worth, or provide them identity and acceptance. But beauty is a vain hope. Remember the words of the wise mother: Pr. 31:30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Dont accept the lie that is so prevalent in our world (though it really is an old lie): that your worth is based on your outward beauty. > > God has designed you, though, to prominently display beauty as part of His Design for both Creation and the Church. Beauty that can be both seen and felt. This is a tremendous honor! But here is the point of these two NT teaching passages: The glory and influence of the beauty that God want to display through you (women in general) is rooted in your hearts. It starts with faith in God (professing godliness; trusted in God), and is manifest through good works (1 Tim 2:10), godly behavior and respect (1 Pet 3:2), a meek and quiet spirit (But dont read passive here in 1 Pet 3:4, OK?), as well as this: a deliberate downplaying of the value of outward beauty and reserve concerning outward adornment. This does not mean that God places a premium on frumpiness, or that He wants you to make yourself outwardly unattractive. Just look at a flower and see its beauty and smell its fragrance, and youll know that God delights in natural, outward beauty. But more than one godly man has agreed with me in this assertion: that there is nothing more beautiful in all of creation than a happy, contented woman. Why is that? It is because the truest beauty flows from within your heart. And the tragedy of believing the lie of your Adversary that your outward beauty is what matters most is that as you yield your hearts to believe that your outward beauty matters most, your true inner beauty suffers accordingly. In plainer words, the more you worry about how you look, the true fountain of your beauty dries up. > > God will use your beauty to change the world, girls. Live for His glory, and not your own; embrace the nature of true, essential beauty and New Testament living concerning this truth. Pursue a life of passion and purpose make your life count! The world does not need any more vain pretties, seeking the praise of men while draining others of life. Find your acceptance in Christ alone, continually, and then give the life you find in Him to others in His name.
_________________ Alan and Dina Martin
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