TRUTHS Part 4

More wonderful truths from God's Word. I hope you are encouraged by these ones, as I was this morning.

Truth #16 The greatest freedom I can experience is found through submission to God-ordained authority
Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

I struggle with this truth, and I see many women struggle with it in their marriages also. We are deceived into thinking we know better in a situation; and perhaps we have a pretty good idea, but it may not be our place to give that idea at that time. Too often, we belittle or strip our husbands of authority (unintentionally) by pushing our ideas on them when they are getting ready to make a decision. If I step back and look at the bigger picture, how often do we actually get in the way when we step out from underneath their authority? I believe that the more we are able to come under our husband's authority, the greater our faith in our Father. It may seem potentially scary or risky to allow our husbands to make those tough financial decisions, or even those small things like cleaning up something differently than we would have. As long as we're being obedient to what the Father is asking us to do, we are under His protective covering. He is going to use our lives powerfully. We may not see how in this life, but we certainly will the other side of heaven when He says, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Truth #17 In the will of God, there is no higher holier calling than being a wife and mother
Titus 2:4-5 "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

This message is, of course, for those God calls to be wife and mothers, which is a wide majority of women. To stay and tend the home is quickly being abandoned by women in the church. We are being swept away by the world's messages and values and feeling less-important if we are just stay-at-home mothers. We may find more instant affirmation in a career, and temporarily feel more useful, stimulated and fulfilled, and have more material conveniences, but in the bigger picture we are abandoning the calling God has laid on our lives, those of us that are wives and mothers. I am actually telling God that His plan isn't for me and that I believe I can make a bigger impact outside the home in someone else's life. Or that I can do both! Oh, how we need to pray that women come back to realize how important their role is in the home. Life is too busy to try and mother part-time.

Truth #18 Personal holiness is more important than temporal happiness
Ephesians 5:26-27 "to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Often we are deceived into thinking that personal happiness is the ultimate goal in life. The number one reason why people are leaving marriage (in the church even) is because they are no longer happy. People do all sorts of things in pursuit of happiness, and often times it means compromising holiness. God's plan for my life was not that I would be "happy" but that I would be holy.

Truth #19 God is more concerned about changing me and glorifying Himself than in fixing my problems
Romans 8:29 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

Where did we ever come up with the idea that God was there to fix all of our problems? God is there to mold us into individuals that will bring Him glory. And if that means allowing us to go through circumstances that will challenge us change us, than we would be foolish to demand that He remove them before we have been refined and brought Him glory. The Apostle Paul rejoiced in hardships and realized he was becoming more and more like Christ in his sufferings. He also realized how God was changing him into the servant He ultimately had planned, and God received all glory for it. This isn't to say God doesn't care about our problems, but He wants to use them until His purposes have been fulfilled in our lives.

Truth #20 It is impossible to be godly without suffering
1 Peter 5:10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."