We have been blessed in the Wise Woman study this summer to have a number of young, unmarried women with us. One of them said: "I wasn't sure this was the study for me - what does this teaching on women building their homes have to do with a grad student (college student, single working woman) living in an apartment by herself or with a room-mate?
The reality is that all of us in the body of Christ are in the business of building God's household: the kingdom of God is among us, God's kingly rule presides over the household of the universal church, all believers of all times; the household of the local church, in our case Four Oaks; the household of the family unit; and the household of the individual believer. We have responsibilities within each of these spheres as we order our lives under our King. The apostle Paul's letter to Pastor Titus teaches us about this order and the particular order the women bring as pillars, strong beautiful pillars supporting and building the household.
We're learning the importance of the woman as priest within this household. The elder women have the responsibility for teaching and training the younger women to think and behave wisely based on the good things of God. The younger women have the responsibility for being willing to learn from women they know well with all their flaws and shortcomings - but who are desiring to obey this command from the Father of every household on earth and in heaven.
We've learned that we are in school together whatever our situation in life. We are encouraged to know the "grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."
One of our single women with no children yet of her own, Lauren Curtis, shared the following:
Last week, one of my kids, we'll call her Kate for the sake of HIPPA laws, revealed to me a very tangible perspective on our need for Christ and the beauty of the Gospel. Kate is 3 years old and suffers from various health issues; she is legally blind as well as unable to walk or crawl, barely able to sit up on her own. One aftenoon last week, Kate was laying belly down, playing on the rug, completely content playing with some toys. A few minutes later, we turned around to see that Kate had had what we call a "blow out" and was completely covered in poop. Not only was she covered in her own poop, but she was playing in it face first. It was everywhere....and it was disgusting. I left the room disgusted at the thought, but later was very much blessed by this experience. This is a child that I pray for the Lord to help me love, she is very difficult in more ways than one. As I was praying about her the next morning, the Lord reminded me of Dueteronomy 32:10 which says "He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." As I read this, I was first so convicted that I have not loved this little girl with the love that has been shown to me. Honestly, I looked at her in her poop and was just frustrated and comletely grossed out. Then I was so amazed at the truth that I, just like her, once played in poop, enjoying it for the satisfaction that I thought it would bring. I played in my own mess, completely blinded to the fact that it was poop and nothing about it was good. And in that mess, completely covered, head to toe, my Father found me, encircled me, cared for me and has kept me as the apple of his eye. He has loved me from before day one. Day in and day out, I am among the children of the world who are deemed unlovely and unworthy. Like Christ, people look at them and do not see beauty that makes them desirable. They have been rejected by men and are acquainted with daily sorrow and grief. But day in and day out, I see Christ in them. I look at them and am reminded that I am just like them. Though I see, though I walk, though I am not as smelly or dirty, I am no different. I need Christ just as much as they do. Isaiah 53:6 says "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Abba Father, please give us eyes to see the beauty, love, and grace of the Gospel in the most mundane and routine moments of our day; changing diapers, feeding families, taking out the trash, putting children to sleep. Please help us to take time to sit with You, speak with You and enjoy You. Jesus, thank you for seeing us for who we are, the muck and all, and loving us in that - teach and help us love others with that same love. Thank you for the ways in which You teach us of Yourself - help us not be so busy that we miss it. Still our crazy minds and hearts, Lord. Give us hearts that desire You first and foremost. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14).
No comments:
Post a Comment