*disclaimer*
Some contents may be hard to swallow and requires digestive aids such as friend support and more Word.
I will follow after the instructions of my Father through His Word to me- the Bible
As for me and my house, I will serve the Lord
Ok- that out of the way.....
Let's cover some things right off the top.
Some women have a calling of other things that are outside of the "normal" role that God called us to. Some have gifts that need to be used out side of the "normal" role that God designed us for.
There are always exceptions. But as a whole, God has created women a certain way and given instructions on our behavior no matter where we are or what our calling. If we accept this, our lives will be fulfilled. Of course we all have the character that God put in us so I am not saying we are to all be the same. We must listen to our Lord and Savior.
Those of us that are married... lets see the verses that talk about this.
(let's stick with the NT at first or this would take days. One OT at the end to read on your own. There are many more on just women but for now let's focus on wives)
Eph 5:22-23 the first verse directed towards "wives" in the New Testament tells us to...
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
ohhhhhh how women take offense to that. Don't do it! It will cause your relationship to be hindered and you WILL NOT be happy. He has the final say. Period. He is your head.
(now we are talking a healthy follower of Christ here... if you are yoked unequally there are different instructions but still come with "submit")
And then our very own character/personality can rebel against that word "everything" right there.
We can have the freedom to be us and expound on our personalities in our world- but something about that "everything" word may cause us to claim things that is really just a piece of rebellion in us, as "us".
Colossians 3:17-18 says...
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Hummm -as is fitting to the Lord. If we cannot submit to our Husbands, how can we submit to the Lord? And with thanks. A simple word, but what does that mean to be thankful? - Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful.
- Expressive of gratitude: a thankful smile.
Reminds me of something... the joy of the Lord is my strength. Lets use that. Could we use anything better to be thankful than the joy of the Lord???? Timothy 3:11 says...
In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
Do not make the excuse that this is talking about leaders of the Church so you are exempt. Because this should be our goal! What he is talking about is if a man is called to be a leader and has a wife opposite of these qualities- it renders him null and void. What will it do to a man and his house then??
Let me check this...
Malicious= | 1. | full of, characterized by, or showing malice; malevolent; spiteful: malicious gossip. |
| 2. | Law. vicious, wanton, or mischievous in motivation or purpose. |
hummmm sounds like an ulterior motive for self.
Trustworthy in everything! We are to be trustworthy in everything. Lets let that sink in just a minute. How much do our Husbands trust us? Our friends? Neighbors? Oh- look up the definitions of trust. To long to post. It is one thing to be trustworthy is some things. However, that is NOT what we are called to do. We are called to be trustworthy in EVERYTHING.
Ohh wait- there was another word there...
temperate=
| 1. | moderate or self-restrained; not extreme in opinion, statement, etc.: a temperate response to an insulting challenge. |
| 2. | moderate as regards indulgence of appetite or passion, esp. in the use of alcoholic liquors. |
| 3. | not excessive in degree, as things, qualities, etc. |
Are we temperate? Do we show self restraint towards our Husbands? Are we excessive in ANYTHING?
Ok- last verse in reference to wives.
1 Peter 3:1-6 ohhh boy!
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
(I prefer the NKJ which says lord- Sarah called him her lord)
Did I make that bold enough???? WITHOUT WORDS!!!!
Now there is a powerful thing. Our conduct should convict the person not living a Godly life.
This will not only effect our Husbands but anyone around us. Trust me on this.
And therein is the unbelieving Husband referred to earlier. See- still submit.
(now I do NOT apply this to abusers! Having come from a household of this. I believe if safety is a question, the woman should put herself in a safe place AND that of her children's lives)
I would also like to point out the end of that passage.... fear .... why would the Lord have put that in there if there were not an aspect of fear that can be involved in submission? Oh yeah! It's there. But we are reminded not to give way to it.
How many times have we been out in public and heard a woman belittling her Husband in how she talks?? May our conduct SHOW how a true woman of God acts towards her Husband. We cannot treat our Husband as a master/lord if we are involved with that type of behavior. And YET, we can still have fun, be ourselves, and joke with our men. There is just a guarding of the heart to not overstep those bounds.
This is the woman's version of the warning to men to refrain from course jesting.
Ephesians 5:3-5
There is some more things I would like to bring up before I get to the conclusion.
1 Peter 3:6-8
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
As a couple... this is also very important on the mans side as you can see.
Ephesians 5:21-23
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
And you can also see that that WE, as Christians, need to heed one another.
But those last two are blogs in themselves.
And last but not least I want to bring up the last book of Proverbs. A virtuous wife.
Proverbs 31:10-31
I urge you to read it after this as I don't want to post- this is getting long.
She is busy but serves the Lord in all that she does.
THIS is my goal
THIS is my calling
I am a woman of God
I am the Church in action
Wait and see the blessings God has in store for us when we apply these things to our lives.
May we all step up into this role that God called us to be for our lives.
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