Confessions of a Church: Prudent Young Women

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.

Proverbs 22:1-10 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all. The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it. The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish. He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

The prudent man, woman, boy, or girl, is one who acts with or shows care and thought for the future.Living prudent isn't placing our trust in the plans of our hearts, but rather making plans and decisions in accordance to God's Word, and trusting that He is working all things together for our good. One aspect of living a prudent life involves our ability to recognize evil, and respond to it accordingly. To be sure, the flesh, the world, and the Devil operate in subtle fashion; they do not come right out holding a sign saying “here i am, look how evil I am”. Sin often times looks pleasant in the beginning. Remember Eve in the garden? The fruit looked good for food, and could make one wise. What could be the harm in that? The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it. This morning, I would like to speak directly to one group of people in particular, though these truths will apply to us all. Young ladies, your flesh, the world, and satan hates you. Womanhood, the idea of being a wife and a mother, living a life governed by a gentle and quiet spirit, and submitting to authority, is under assault in our day and age. The call for young ladies as yourself is to cast off all restraint and defy your creator in the way He designed you. Many women in our time, in their pursuit of equal rights, have been reduced to living their lives reflecting the traits of the most monstrous men among us: foul mouthed, promiscuous, aggressive, and failing to care for their children in the way God designed them. Ladies, you know the temptations are there. You see your friends succumbing to them, and it looks like fun. Perhaps you are thinking, “Why is God withholding good things from me?” Maybe you think, “ I am still young, a little taste of that now won’t hurt”. God designed us a certain way, men as protectors, and providers, women as nurturers, with gentle and quiet spirits. When we fail to recognize the danger of not living our lives in the way God designed us, we do exactly what Eve did in the garden. We say to God “ I know You said that You would provide for me, and satisfy me, but this fruit, or activity, or person, or lifestyle, seems so much better suited for me”, and we take the fruit, forgetting  God has said that the wages of sin is death. Failing to recognize the evil, and hiding from it, sets you down the slippery wide path of destruction. Over time, sin becomes easier for you, because God has not punished you for it, yet. As you go on, God actually gives you over to your depraved thinking, and while you once would not have contemplated the lifestyle you are engaged in, you are not only drowning in it, but you also give approval to others to do the same things as well. Perhaps you aren’t quite there yet. Maybe you are simply being tempted, and wondering “What if?”. Flee to Christ today from the wrath to come!   Proverbs 18:10 says that“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” Young ladies, no temptation has overtaken you except such is common to man, but God has provided a way of escape through His Son Jesus. You are beautiful, created in God’s image. Don’t believe the lies of your flesh, the world, and Satan that suggest your value and worth is found in rebelling against your Creator. Satan would sift you, but there is hope. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Ladies, your heavenly Father loves you, and knows what is best for you. Please trust Him today. Let us kneel and cry out to God for mercy.

We love You O LORD, our strength. You are our Rock, and our fortress and our deliverer. Our God, our rock, in whom we take refuge; our shield, horn of salvation, and stronghold. We call upon You, who is worthy to be praised, and we are saved from our enemies. Father, we do not have to look far to know that sin is lurking, and it’s desire is for us. We are tempted to stray from Your design for us, not believing that You know what is best. Please save us O Lord from these bodies of death! Father, please give us strength to overcome the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life which assault us endlessly. Father, please help us recognize evil, and flee to Your Son Jesus for refuge. It’s in His Mighty Name that we pray, amen.
 
 
Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

Ephesians 2: 19-22  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

 To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lift up your hearts!
(From the 8-12-18 liturgy of Sovereign King Church. Written by Aaron Sabie.)