11/28/2021
God is love, and there is no love greater, but if there is a gold standard of love within the human race, it is the love of women. God suited them for this role, and when we compare our human love, the love of a parent, friend, or sibling, it is typically to the overall love of women. We see this in scripture in the words of David after Jonathon has been killed, and in our secular writing, poetry, and song throughout the ages.
““How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.”
2 Samuel 1:25-26 ESV
Every man is loved by a woman throughout his life, he is cradled to her breast when he is born, lovingly taught by her as he grows to be a man, is loved by her as his wife in adulthood, given sons and daughters by her to fill his life, and with cries, and a broken heart, she lays him in his grave, and he is thus mourned by her in his death. Is there any wonder that God chose women to first reveal the resurrection of Jesus to, and to carry the good news back to the others?
“And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.””
Mark 16:5-7 ESV
God gave Eve to Adam as a helpmate, but he also gave her to love him, as a jewel, and as someone that his heart could be entrusted to. The love of women thus came to be the standard by which we judge human love. No man naturally loves as a woman, and lovingly she stands by him all the days of her life.
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
Proverbs 31:10-12 ESV
It is for this reason that God teaches men how to love their wives, and women how to honor their husbands. The gentler nature of women is to be protected, and loved, by the msn, while the stronger role of men is to be respected by the woman.
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”
Ephesians 5:25, 28 ESV
“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Ephesians 5:33 ESV
As I was reading my morning devotional message today, it contained an interesting observation. These are Andrew Murray’s words that made me pause, and give thought to what is lost when women strive to become like men… happiness, indoctrination to faith, and other attributes of our social makeup, and society as a whole.
“It is the suffering, prayerful, all-conquering love of women that secures the happiness of a people.” - Andrew Murray
To this end the roles of men and women have been established by God, and are by His will, and for His purpose… not as a punishment, but to bring harmony, and balance to life. These sexual differences are called out to protect God’s design. Thus scripture teaches us to be, and remain, men and women, and passages in the Bible concerning our sex based roles make sense to us…
““A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 22:5 ESV
So, how are we doing today? Is the love of women being diminished? Is the strength of man in the family being lost? Are we losing the childhood establishment of our faith? Are boys being taught to be strong men of faith, and little girls taught to be godly women? Is God’s design intact, and our social order being maintained in happiness, and harmony? Let’s pray that we are not straying from the will and wisdom of God by losing sight of His plan for our well-being.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the love you have shown us, and for the balance that your love brings to us as men and women. Father keep your will and plan for mankind alive and well by maintaining the love of woman, and the godly strength of man. Teach us to be who you designed us to be so that our faith, families, nations, and people, will remain righteous, happy, merciful, and like you in all ways. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who balances all of creation, and gives each of us gifts that we can accomplish your will. Praised be your name for the love that women bring into our families, and the strength of the men who lead them, and provide for them. Merciful are you who teaches each of us our place in your creation, and who secures us in our faith. Help us to be happy in this life, not by living out our will, but by conforming ourselves to yours. Wash away our sins Father by cleansing us in the blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and seat us at your table forevermore… men, women, boys, and girls, each of us bringing you glory in the way you have designed us.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
Jeremiah 29:11-12 ESV
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”
Psalm 33:11 ESV
Rich Forbes