A Woman of Excellence

O. T. #1505  "A Woman of Excellence"
August 15, 2019
Proverbs 31-Part 2
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10

LET IT GLOW 

This section is written differently in the Hebrew language in that the initial letters are in the alphabetical order of Hebrew letters in acrostic  form. It's content (verses 10-31) is thought to have been teachings of King Lemuel's, another name for Solomon (Bathsheba) mother. 

Who wants to be a virtuous woman? Perhaps we should know what it means before answering. 

Virtuous in the Hebrew means strong, wealthy, able, virtue, valor. 

Now that we understand it's meaning, is your answer "yes?" Of course, if you are a guy, wouldn't you want a virtuous wife? Or, who wouldn't want that kind of wife for their son?

Just to let you know, we may be camping on this topic and chapter for a while before we wrap up this book. God has some things to teach us, which could take a while. So thank you dear friend for joining me. Actually, I think it is going to be a good study as we learn how to be a virtuous woman. I pray that we open up our heart to what God has to say to us and then apply it to our life, as well as share with others. May the Lord Jesus bless you as we travel this road of faith together. 

I am going to be using Kingdom Woman, written by Tony Evans  
and daughter Chrystal Evans Hurst as a reference. 

I assume that since you are still reading this that your answer is "Yes, that you and I want to be a virtuous woman." We desire to do what it takes to be a Kingdom woman. We commit to finish this chapter together and apply it to our life. Remember that we are not alone. I surely need this, too.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to throw off everything that hinders our service for God. It weighs  us down, as a burden, and the sin that so easily entangles us. It is individual sins, since we each struggle with various sins in our life. It is that sin which defeats us in our Christian life. When we cast those off, then we are free to seriously and patiently run the race for Christ, the race He has marked out for us. [Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary]

On the other hand, Tony Evans says it  "the sin," (singular), the sin of unbelief, a lack of faith, which we are to throw off.  

Jesus, we need Your help to learn how to become a virtuous woman, a kingdom woman that pleases You. Lead us in our individual race, and give us the strength to follow You.

With all of that said, are you read to dive in?

LET IT GLOW

English Standard Version, ESV, says verse 10 this way:
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

What can we learn about the excellent wife?

• Excellence should be our aim as a kingdom woman.
• God has ordained us for a destiny of excellence. He wants us to rise to a higher standard. He desires excellence in all we do.
• We are to be excellent in our decisions and actions.
• Excellence doesn't mean perfection, but doing all we can with all we have at that moment.
• Don't let the reality of our past, good or bad, to affect our present. Let go of yesterday. Learn from yesterday, but don't live in it, talking about it. Move forward.
• Fulfill our responsibilities willingly because we do them unto the Lord Jesus.
• Allow God to transform us into the likeness of Jesus.
• When we choose excellence, God gets the glory and we get joy.
• A kingdom woman knows her true value and shows the reflection of how God sees her. She makes God's standard her own in all that she does.

Ruth in the Old Testament is a good example of living a life of excellence. She was a good worker, took care of her mother in law, didn't run after younger men. Thus she gained an excellent reputation. God was pleased with her and showed it. When she became the wife of Boaz, she later became the great-grandmother of King David, and ultimately a direct ancestor of King Jesus Christ.

Are we striving to live in order to please God? (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
In our season of life, are we striving to be a kingdom woman of excellence?

LET IT GO
                     ...of the past and live in today.
                                ... of the world and live for Jesus.
                                ... and go the extra mile.