Womanhood (pt.3): Favored by God

There is no better way to learn than having an example to follow. Looking through the Bible, there are actually quite a few examples that women can follow. Ruth was a dedicated and loyal daughter-in-law. Esther was a courageous queen. Rachel was a redeemed wife. They all followed God and showed how great patience brings great blessings. But perhaps one of the greatest of all examples found in the Bible is none other than Jesus’ mother, Mary. She was chosen by God which is one of the highest honors in the Bible. So much so that an angel came to her and professed it saying “Hail, thou that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amoung women.” (Luke 1:28) This example, as afore mentioned, has not only lasted many years after happening, but it was also spoken of and alluded to many years before it had even happened-roughly 600 years. Daniel and Isaiah gave prophecy about the favored virgin and the Son of God that she was to conceive in the Spirit.

One might wonder “Why was she favored?”  The first sign was the angel telling her that the Holy Spirit was with her and that she was favored (and who would not believe an angel). The second sign was when she went to see her cousin Elisabeth and the baby in Elisabeth's womb leapt. As she was filled with the Holy Spirit, Elisabeth too realized and expressed how Mary was blessed and favored by God. But perhaps the greatest sign of why was echoed from her heart and reflected in her response and how she praises God:

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. Luke 1:46‭-‬49 KJV

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Womanhood (pt.2): Virtuous Woman

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(Genesis 2:18 KJV). A man is not an all powerful being; therefore, there come times when he needs help. God created a woman to help a man. While in this context there is mention toward creation for companionship, in 1Peter 3:1-2 the woman/wife is a help to a man/husband in times when he may not be in the Word as needed of him. Likewise, 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;  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.(1 Peter 3:1‭-‬2 KJV)

In the natural flow of things, a godly man will by example teach his family the way of godly success. It is not his way, but yet the ways of He who taught him. If at any point in time a man loses his way, it is imperative that he regains his Christian leadership, and that should be done by his wife, without opposition and challenge hinging from his failure. Therefore, this process should be done with the proper level of respect and discretion similar to the address given to the wives of deacons, which required that they be not slanderers (1Timothy 3:11). She should reflect, not the behavior of her own desires and discernment, but those of God. And by this, she will not shame him, but she will be the crown of her husband and a virtuous woman(Proverbs 12:4).

Womanhood: Professing Godliness

Throughout history we have been given definitions of what and who a woman should be. Celebrities, news anchors, politicians, teachers, moguls, and even preachers tell us what a real woman is. But unless these people derive their opinions from a Biblical basis, they and all who follow them are sadly mistaken and do not know the truth. Proverbs 31 gives examples of some of the workings of a woman. She fed and clothed her household and was respected by her children. She was called blessed by her family.

1 Timothy 2: 9-10 said in regards to her appearance, that she "adorned herself in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but with good works (which becometh women professing godliness.)"
She dresses such that her clothes, hair, and jewelry do not take precedent for her or others with whom she comes into contact, over her dedication to God. And to be clear, the text warns of the unnecessary focus and not against the action of her adorning herself. Shamefacedness means being modest while showing reverence to God and self-control. Therefore, she would have regard for her husband or father and not want to shame him because her head is her father or her husband, and his is Christ, and Christ's is God. Following this line, to respect herself would be honoring her father or husband, then Christ and then, above all, God. Doing so makes her “the glory of the man.”

In regards to sobriety, this simply refers to control over the desires of the flesh dealing with promiscuity. So, in this instance, such as in sobriety referring to alcoholic beverages for example, she would be “fighting the urge” of promiscuity and not allowing it to control her thoughts of the flesh before those thoughts of God.

These examples of what a woman should be, can also refer in some regards to us as Christians toward the Lord Jesus Christ. In a long line of what we should and should not do, these have strong bases. However, these are not the only things that we as Christians, or in this regard a woman, should take into consideration. There are other things that are important and in time we will review those things….

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