Hello sisters!
Hope you're all holding fast in the hope of Christ. He is so worthy to be labored for isn't He!
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:10-11
We sisters are daily willing - to stand - and say 'that's not right' to something whether in speech or by our actions of not participating in something. And even though it may be hard for us, Christ and His truth is worth it all and we are to love Him and not be pushed around all over the place into things that are not truth and are sinful. The opposite of truth is a lie isn't it and we know who the father of those is.
And for us sisters having the roles that we do as being made for man and some having husbands it can add an extra dimension of difficulty because we don't rule and usurp authority and such. But this pleases God when we work within what we have been created for and obviously we aren't to sin if someone wants us to but we learn the depths of trusting God and submission giving up our own will (except our will to serve God which is only what we want anyway).
I have no desire to be a part of any group of believers who do not want to be united and pure in doctrine and striving hard against sin. And I'm sure none of you sisters do either. I don't want to be united where there is known sin and it is overlooked just to make others happy. God is holy and His Son holy and precious and His ways are truth and righteousness and He calls us to follow Him doesn't He. So sisters let's keep loving Him more and more! And the more we love Him the more we desire to obey Him wholeheartedly and in growing we see more too.
I'm encouraged by my sisters who have that love and want to grow more and more after His holiness because Christ made the way for us!
I was thinking about the ways we women may be able to share truth with others. Of course the most obvious is just being a light in our appearance and actions of good works and kindess. And then we should be prepared with the gospel of Christ. And one way to do that is to have something written to give to people especially when there isn't much of a chance to talk deeper. But in doing that we need to also have the right focus and motivation and it must be led by the Spirit and be for helping that soul. We definitely don't want it to be something just to do or that we feel we must because we have to but it must come from seeing the value of souls and the preciousness of the truth. This will press us on in greater urgency. Of course the other person is responsible for their life but we are to be faithful. It's good to re evaluate ourselves from time to time to make sure we have the right motive in this (and all things). And it is love isn't it? Yes it's love for God (obeying Him in spreading His gospel for one) and the other's soul which is called loving our neighbor which is very important. We know it is unloving to not tell the truth to people really if we know it as we do. And it's sad that most who claim Christ would rather just all get along and not care about souls. They may say as long as we all just believe in Jesus it's fine, but most all the denominations believe...and they are filled with lies from the father of lies and not of God. We know there is a false faith, and those who receive the grace of God and believe in vain. We don't want that for ourselves or others do we. So we are to examine ourselves to see if we are really even in the faith at all.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 1:5
I definitely want to be filled with love for souls and that will overcome our flesh and character that doesn't always find it an easy thing to do. But we don't give up and keep pressing on. As we know, walk in the Spirit not the flesh.
Pretty day God gave here...
And pretty stars last night...
Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
Isaiah 45:11-12
All the glory goes to the Creator!
May your day be blessed sisters! And may it be filled with His peace that the world cannot take away! Hold fast!
Much love in the Lord,
Sister Michaela
Find the gospel explained here.