Greetings godly sisters!
How are each of you going? I hope that you all are standing strong in Christ, deeply rooted in Him!
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11
I love that scripture! It's so strong sounding!
I was thinking about this scripture...
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luke 8:14
I know I shared some yesterday about how there are so many who love pleasures more than God which makes them dead.
God's word is so good. We know it is but it explains everything as we see happening doesn't it. Of course He is greater than all this world and knows all things! But I was pondering that scripture and we can also take that as a warning to ourselves. But we indeed do see those who hear the truth and claim the name of Christ being choked by the world; it's riches and lusts and pleasures....entertainments of all kinds like sports, music, games, shows, rides, amusement parks, movies, TV, books, and other hobbies. And even good things like for us women, keeping the home, we could become obsessed with decorations and keeping it spotless while neglecting what matters most. Kind of reminds me of Mary and Martha here.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:40-42
But there is so much love of the pleasures of this life that we may not have fully realized the depths of it all when we first came to follow Christ but the longer we follow Him and see the depths of His holiness the more we see don't we.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
And a woman can definitely be choked by favour and beauty if she has pride in her appearance and wants to alter this to try to make herself 'more attractive'. That is not good fruit that comes from the seeds falling on good soil is it. Good fruit would be losing her self and life and what she wants to look like to conform to God's commands for holy women. We ought to be willing to lose this for Christ and it be a joyous thing! And then you don't care about such things anymore but rejoice in the simplicity and labour for that which is important. Christ truly sets us free!
I was trying to think of more ways that a woman may become choked by the cares of this life. I'm sure you can think of more.
Perhaps it could be also for a single woman in that she is so focused on wanting to be married, and not leaving that in the Lord's hands, that she may compromise and turn back because there are so few godly men. She should be focusing on the blessings she does have and thankful and content in the Lord's will, doing His work instead.
There could be other women who cannot unattach themselves from closeness with unbelieving or disobedient family and so they fall back into compromise.
A woman could be obsessed with all the 'health trends and ideas' or whatever you want to call them. And fearful of eating the wrong thing. Another woman may have a problem with over indulging in the great variety of foods and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh to have all kinds and cooking for those in her life. Again that would be a bit like Martha.
But I'm sure there's many more areas for women that they could be choked. But we want to be among those who keep the Word and bring forth much good fruit!
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:15
And we do have to strive in this don't we sisters as we know there are many trials to overcome and the enemy is seeking whom he may devour and other dangers to our souls.
Aren't we sisters glad to be set free from all these things like seeking after riches and pleasures and getting swept away in the cares of this life. Our focus is on things above and glorifying the Lord with much good fruit and letting our light shine!
One of the areas in Titus 2 that women are to teach one another is to be good and we know goodness is a fruit of the Spirit and we can only bear much good fruit by abiding in Christ the Vine, right sisters.
Thank you sister for sharing this scripture picture...
What a precious thing to have eyes and ears opened by the Lord. May we keep treasuring this sisters and be faithful in what we have been given.
I must go now sisters but I hope that was edifying in some way. Let's keep pressing on. Hope your many duties and hard work as godly women go well today...and you do it all with patient endurance with joy unto the Lord!
Much love in Christ,
Sister Michaela
Find the gospel explained here.