Qualities of the Virtuous Woman—Trustworthiness
(NIV) Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
Prov 31:10 (KJV)
“Who can find a [virtuous woman]? for her price <is> far above rubies.” —
Prov 31:10 (AMP)
“A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.” —
In Proverbs 31, beginning in verse 10, we see the qualities of the virtuous woman. Reading from verses 10 to 31, she is a woman who works from before daylight until after dark. This woman is smart, enterprising, energetic, trustworthy, and she is admired by all she knows.
When my pastor first met with Larry and me for premarital counseling, he asked Larry, “Why do you want to marry Carol?” Well, being in love and inclined to a romantic perspective, I expected Larry to respond with flowery comments dotted with phrases such as “Because I can’t imagine my life without her.” Instead, he quite simply stated, “Because I trust her.” My pastor, with tears in his eyes, said, “That’s all I need to hear.”
Admittedly, the Proverbs 31 woman is written from the perspective of a wife who works hard on behalf of her husband. But isn’t living a virtuous life a goal to which we should each strive to attain, whether we are single, married, divorced or widowed?
In Ruth’s story we see a woman whose husband has died, and she chooses to leave Moab, her native land, and travel to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi, whose husband has also died.
I find Ruth’s story so compelling because the love between a woman and her mother-in-law is sometimes less than ideal. Yet, Ruth’s love and loyalty to Naomi is the kind of love we would do well to emulate.
When we live in such a way that our actions glorify God, we will be noticed by others. Initially, Ruth did not do anything to call attention to herself, yet Boaz recognized her as a woman of high standards and knew he could trust her to become a part of his family.
May we each live in such a manner that others will recognize Christ in us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Who is the Virtuous Woman
In beginning this study, I found it quite significant that, although woman was the first to sin, she was also the last to leave the foot of the cross, the first to arrive at the tomb of Jesus, the first to see our risen Lord, and the first to proclaim His resurrection to the disciples. This speaks volumes as to the make-up of women.
Many will say Satan tempted Eve rather than Adam because she was the weaker of the two. I am not convinced of this. Eve made some crucial mistakes in dealing with Satan, and we would do well to learn from these.
First, she engaged in a conversation with Satan. We have the benefit of Jesus’ example that we are not to have idle conversation with the enemy. Jesus only spoke the scripture to Satan, and when confronted by the enemy, we should do the same.
Secondly, Eve had no business being in the vicinity of the forbidden tree. She knew full well she was not to eat of the tree. She was not hungry. There was an abundance of food in the garden. She looked upon it because it was “a delight to the eyes,” but surely there were many other beautiful sights in the garden.
Like Eve, we are often led astray when, instead of being satisfied with what God has supplied, we look upon that which we can not have with longing. How do we tell the difference between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy? By the content—the enemy condemns, makes us question who God is and who we are in Him.
Finally, she sought equality with God, just as Lucifer had before he and his demons were cast from heaven. Matthew Henry, in speaking of Adam and Eve, says:
He [Satan] tempts them to seek preferment, as if they were fit to be gods. Satan ruined himself by desiring to be like the Most High, therefore he sought to infect our first parents with the same desire, that he might ruin them too. And still the devil draws people into his interest, by suggesting to them hard thoughts of God, and false hopes of advantage by sin. Let us, therefore, always think well of God as the best good, and think ill of sin as the worst evil; thus let us resist the devil and he will flee from us.
Sinful as we are, God still finds ways to use us. God has called many men and women to His service throughout history, some of whom are quite famous, some who are completely unknown. There is still much to be done before our Lord’s return. Satan’s attack on the families has never been stronger, but God’s Word promises that “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: [because greater] is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4
Join me as we explore anew how to be people of virtue.
Let There Be Hope
(Amp)Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
(NRSV) Psalm 26:13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Hope has always been a vital part of my makeup. Some people disregard hope as being foolish. Others believe hope displays a lack of faith, as though only one or the other can exist. For me, hope has sustained me while waiting for the thing promised by faith to be made real.
There are times when I almost lose hope. Almost. But hope brings a confident expectation that my faith will not disappoint.
I wrote the following poem following my first heart attack. I was as low as I’ve ever been—physically weak and emotionally exhausted. Yet, I still had both hope and faith.
HOPE
Hope drifts in on angel’s wings, barely
disturbing the air, the room, we
hardly know it’s there.
Yet, it arrives, unhurried, but
not unwanted.
We see it in the
face of a friend, the
trace of a smile, or simply
a kind word. It is the promise
of good things to come, the
assurance that we are not alone. It is
what gets us through another day
when we think we cannot go on.
2008 Carol J. Grace All Rights Reserved
I cannot lose hope, and neither can you. May we hold fast to our belief that God will sustain us through life’s difficulties.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The God Who is Faithful
(NIV)Ps 36:5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Whether I sing Psalm 36 or read it, I am filled with wonder at the magnitude of God’s faithfulness. David describes this particular attribute of God with expansive words, but rather than be intimidated I am comforted. David goes on to say we are assured that we can depend on Him for His abundance, for the fountain of life springs from Him.
In the eighties, Don Moen brought many Psalms to life through Integrity music. I was immediately drawn to the worship which paired the words from the Psalms with enchanting music. This should not be a surprise since the Psalms were, after all, songs, meant to be sung.
In an ever-changing world, the consistent nature of God is calming, assuring me that whatever I am facing, I am not alone. The importance of knowing that I can trust in God cannot be overstated.
I mentioned Don Moen’s songs earlier, but it is the songs of my youth that most often bubble up to the surface of my memories. Listen to these lyrics by James Wells written in 1918:
I care not today what tomorrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything
And all of my worry is vain.
Living by faith, in Jesus above
Trusting, confiding, in His great love
I’m safe from all harm, in his sheltering arm
I’m living by faith, and feel no alarm.
May we be confident that whatever we face today, we have an ever present help in the time of need in Jesus, our Savior and our Lord.
In the name of the Fatter, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The God Who Meets Our Needs
1 Thess 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians includes several nuggets that help uplift us in our faith. This brief passage is a blessing Paul offers to the church, but it is surely one that we need today.
During these days of unrest, I find myself seeking out scriptures that speak of love. In yesterday’s devotional I mentioned that love comes naturally for God, but not so much for us. We want love to be reciprocal, equal, or maybe even abundant when we are on the receiving end, but sometimes we are not so generous in giving or showing our love toward others.
I was reminded this morning of a person in my life who was so unlovable that I began praying for God to change her. For seven years I asked God to give her a new heart, and then one morning I realized I loved her. God answered my prayer, not by changing her, but by changing me.
If there is someone in your life who is contentious, argumentative, just a negative individual, recognize that God can work through them to refine you. As difficult as it may be, thank God for that person. and then watch as God gives you what you need.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 