We need to learn how to use the time before we're involved with any man for Abba's utmost glory! We need to stop dragging through it as though it's some punishment we don't deserve; we need to stop wasting this time and start embracing it!
The things we can do with this time when we look at it with a whole new attitude is awesome.
So let’s start with the single most important thing: our relationship with our bridegroom.
“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’”
-Matthew 25:6 (NASB)
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
-Matthew 25:10 (NKJV)
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
-Revelation 19:7 (NASB)
Now there’s something particular I want to point out in those last two verses and that’s about being ready. While we are single, we have time and time is something that we can take a great advantage of. Not only as we are preparing ourselves for the man who will take care of us for life on this earth, we are also getting ready for our Husband in heaven!
Just think… here on earth we get so excited about the thought of a wedding. When God brings the woman to the man he’s to marry, that man will start courting or “chasing” that woman; or even dating depending on your definition. Then after awhile the topic of marriage comes up, then the upcoming wedding; until finally the butterflies in our knotted stomach reach their climax as we hit the day that we’ve invested so much time in for, the day that celebrates a lifelong commitment between two people!
There is no reason for us to not be just as excited about Jesus! We are in a state of preparing for Him, learning His word, setting aside our dreams to reach for His (it’s really no different than letting a guy walk all over your plans- oh yeah, except, Jesus has respect and only wants the best for you). Oh the excitement… just think, we are the apple of God’s eye! US! Us measly, good-for-nothing DIRT… we make Abba’s heart skip beats (Song of Solomon 4:9)! How I can't wait for that marriage feast...
Proverbs 31 depicts a woman who knows how to provide, manage daily spending money, and care for her family. She spends her time wisely and is organized; she gives out of the kindness of her heart. Her husband is not only known for his business, but also because of the success of his wife.
This sounds overwhelming for a lot of us girls; but the truth is that when our focus is on God, all these things will start to fall into place. Jesus is our ultimate Teacher, Counselor, source of comfort and He won’t let us down as we rely and follow Him.
I’d like to take a look at three women who were Proverbs 31 women: Ruth, Mary and Rebekah. These three girls in the bible that were simply living their lives after God, when suddenly they He asked them to take a leap of faith.
Rebekah was simply going to get water, as she did daily I’m sure, and the next thing she knows there’s this guy who’s asking for a drink. Well she gets him a drink and offers to give all his camels a drink as well (even though she didn’t need to do this at all).
And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
-Genesis 24:17-20 (NKJV)
When all is said and done… this man wants to take her back to his master’s place so she can marry his master’s son, and the servant never even brought a picture! She had no clue what Isaac was like, if he was kind, or compassionate. If he was her age or an older guy, if he believed the same things she did… I mean she was clueless! (I’m sure that servant had lots of details to fill in for her on the way back though.) But she said “I will go (Genesis 24:58)” and trusted that God would be providing the exact man she needed as a husband.
Then there was Ruth, who left all she ever knew to take care of her mother in law. This meant her family, her culture, her friends… her life. She embraced Naomi’s God as her God as well; all the while she was probably still grieving the loss of her husband. It always strikes me that even when Naomi declared herself “Mara” which means bitter and sad (Ruth 1:20-21), Ruth didn’t lose heart and turn back. She was faithful even when it appeared she’d been taken for granted. When she went to gather from fields to provide for her and her mother in law, God guided her to exactly the right field; in the end providing her a husband who was caring towards before she was even his wife. Because of her obedience in following Abba, she even ended up in the family line of Jesus! If she had not gone with her mother in law, then she would’ve just been another girl in the bible.
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.” … At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left. When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
-Ruth 2:8-9, 14-16 (NASB)
While it may or may not be clear, we could assume Ruth had not been able to have kids. She’d already had a husband for 10 years (Ruth 1:4) and had had no children, which was very much something to be ashamed about then. Now we are told that God gave Ruth conception (Ruth 4:13). A friend commented to Naomi “for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons” (Ruth 4:15) which was high praise for a woman. Ruth’s life was as chaotic and at times as grieving as ours, I’m sure, but she remained obedient and walked in the will of the Lord, so she was rewarded.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
-Matthew 6:33 (NASB)
Last of all, but not least, is Mary. (Most likely still a teenager!) Who was already engaged to be married when she was told she would be carrying in her womb the Son of God (Luke 1:31, 35). I’m sure she had a lot of nagging thoughts. She could lose her fiancé, she could end up raising a child alone, she could lose her reputation; she could lose a lot of things… Still she responded: “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) She didn’t lose her husband to be; he was in fact a man of God and acted in obedience.
Our focus ought not to be on boys, but on God. One of the most important things we must learn to do is Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Remember a girl should be so lost in God that a man must seek Him in order to get to her.
Book highlight-- I highly suggest the book God is a Match-Maker by Derek and Ruth Prince.
No comments:
Post a Comment