Christ Archives - Gracefully Truthful

She Day 13 Gardner Of The Home

November 15, 2023 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

She Day 13 Gardner Of The Home

Rebecca Adams

November 15, 2023

Beauty,Bold,Captivating,Christ,Family,Hero,Holy Spirit,Marriage

Read His Words Before Ours!

Titus 2:1-5
Psalm 92
Proverbs 14:1
Revelation 3:19-22
Psalm 1:1-3

Submission.

The arrangement of those particular letters forming that specific word often turn my insides raw.

A “you will obey me” mentality comes to mind.
Coercion.
Manipulation.
Head down.
Crushed spirit.
Wanting to fight, but knowing it would bring no benefit, and would likely make it worse.

Slap on a “spiritual happy face” and label this scene “submission”.

Ugly Chills.

But it’s not just my heart that revolts against that definition. The Lord’s righteous jealousy glows hot when His daughters believe such sinister lies as they actively exchange the truth of God for an insidious Satanic lie wrapped in a package labeled “Christian Wife Qualities”. (Romans 1:18, Nahum 1:2-3)

Is your stomach churning?
Mine is.

The same slippery snake has been doling out sickening, sugar-coated deceptions since time began in the Garden of Eden with his cunning question, “Did God really say…?”. (Genesis 3:1)

It worked in Eden as creation’s very first She, Eve, took God’s original words, added to them, and twisted His intent, making the Almighty Gracious Creator look like a stingy, self-absorbed power-monger. And it works exactly the same for us every time we hold onto a definition of submission that departs from Scriptural teaching.

Ready for some truth?
I Am!

There’s something richly wholesome about feeding on solid truth, and as Shes in a world of fraud and faux, Truth sets a welcoming banquet like nothing else.
I need truth.
Desperately.

Bring your stretchy pants for this one, girls, we’re gonna’ EAT!

“…older women are to be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking.
They are to teach what is good,
so that they may encourage the young women
to love their husbands and to love their children,
to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home,
kind, and in submission to their husbands,
so that God’s word will not be slandered.” (Titus 2:3-5)

Pastor Paul sent this letter to Titus who was strengthening house churches on the island of Crete. Church leadership had gone awry as self-love took first place and cultural slothful laziness influenced Christ-followers so much that they began to look more like Cretans than Christians. Paul’s letter provided wisdom and practical insight as Titus went to work correcting poor spiritual habits in the churches on Crete.

Let’s join Titus at the table while the Holy Spirit teaches our hearts through His Word!

Teachers (verse 3)
Women are excellent teachers, whether it’s in the classroom, at home, or at work; we were designed to teach others just by the way we live. The woman mature in Christ will leverage her teaching gifts to influence others for the gospel as she trains them to follow Jesus.

Encouragers (verse 4)
Jesus-loving women have grown strong in emotionally connecting and naturally empathizing with others; they are quick to not only notice when encouragement is needed, but give it generously.

Love (verse 4)
Women are natural born lovers and nurturers. We comfort, tend, fuss over, soothe, and foster nourishment. When that woman has sat under the maturing work of the Holy Spirit, their lives will prove it by loving their children, spouses, neighbors, and teammates with a deep, fight-for-you kind of selfless, humble love.

Self Control & Purity (verse 5)
Spotting the admirable characteristics of self-control and purity in Paul’s list, we understand that women who have learned to dance in step with Jesus will be wearing Self-Control as she lives out Purity of thoughts, words, and actions in her hum-drum normal life.

Then comes “workers at home” and my modern, feminist-culture-influenced-self shoots up flags.
Um, what?
No.
Workers at home?
I can’t have a career?
Can’t speak up?
Don’t have influence?

Soon, we’ve grasped so tightly onto a single aspect, wrenching it free from its original place in Scripture to its original audience, that we’ve lost sight of the Lord’s good intention. (verse 3) In fact, our eyes likely missed “kind” altogether, skipped to “submission”, and we’re ready to make heads roll as the feminist flag flies high.

Before we jump on that bandwagon, sisters, would you be willing to sit quietly with me and reach a little deeper into God’s Word to see something spectacular?

Christ Jesus, Lord of all things, Holder of every molecule, submitted.
It was His idea.
He modeled it.
He chose it.
(Colossians 1:15-20, Luke 22:42)

Steeped in Scripture, we start to rightly define submission.
It’s a choice.
Never a coercion.
Never a manipulation.

If you’ve ever been “commanded” by anyone to “submit”, you’ve been the object of severe mistreatment of God’s Word.
Submission can only ever be willfully given.

Submission is our gift to the Lord Jesus who submitted to the Father, by submitting to the cross to pay the death penalty in our stead.
Submission is our gift to a husband if we are married.
Submission is our gift to brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Have you ever read the gospel accounts of Jesus healing diseases everywhere He went as crowds gathered? (John 6:2) Have you ever wondered why there aren’t also stories of relationships suddenly healed and marriages made whole?
Answer: Submission

The Author of submission
who wrote the rules of love,
knew that forced behavior
would never equal humble, sacrificial love.
Submissive love must be chosen.

Which is why Christ will never force Himself on any soul. We are each given the choice to accept or reject His offer of total forgiveness for our sin as He powerfully pursues us with mercy and goodness. (Psalm 23:6, 1 John 1:9)

Within a marriage relationship, submission is such a stunning gift and holds such great, steadying value that the Greek word translated in our Bibles as “submit” provides the visual of a pillar that upholds a building. It’s an anchoring support. The building, or in the case of wives, the Home, grows shaky without her influence.

She, as homemaker submitting to her husband, has been handcrafted to uphold structure, to protect those within her care, to guard them from harmful influences and cultivate growth as the Gardner of Her Home.

Does She have influence?
So Much.
And in unique ways that her husband doesn’t because marriage is designed as a partnership.

Should She do whatever her husband says?
Absolutely not, for the Lord God created male and female. Uniquely fitted to work together to reflect the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Incredible!

Through submission to her husband’s love, she reflects what Christ Jesus did unto the Father when He chose death to pay for our sin so that
He could be our pillar of safety,
our anchoring support, our guard,
and our nourishment.
Can there be any more stunning role than this?!

She who submits is a She who has great influence and great power,
yet willingly chooses to use those powers to uphold, guard, protect, and deeply, sacrificially love.

The next time you see letters arranging the word “submission”, I hope you’ll think of Jesus.
I hope you’ll think of Pastor Paul writing to Titus, urging him to find Jesus-following Shes who so deeply loved Jesus they couldn’t think of any better investment for their lives than willingly submitting to Christ and their husbands for the strengthening and nourishing of the whole, beautiful family of God!

“Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.”
(Proverbs 14:1)

Be a She who submits to Jesus!

Tags :

Community,home,mom,she,Wife,Woman

Share This :

Recent Journeys

Worship XII Day 12 Go Tell It On The Mountains: Digging Deeper

December 5, 2023

Worship XII Day 11 Go Tell It On The Mountain

December 4, 2023

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2

December 2, 2023

She Day 14
Digging Deeper

While current American culture prescribes militant “femininity” as the only antidote for “toxic masculinity,” the church today is rife with women, men, and children who are starving for sound, Scriptural teaching and discipleship.

As women who have chosen to surrender our lives to Jesus and pursue following Him, we seek sound teachers who will speak God’s truth to us and encourage us to joyfully serve those around us.

Dig Deeper!

Can We Pray With You?

Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

This Week's Lock Screen

Explore This Journey Theme!

Join a GT POD!

Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

Join the GT Facebook Community!

Free Registration!

Share Your Story!

She Day 12 Flesh Of My Flesh: Digging Deeper

November 14, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

She Day 12 Flesh Of My Flesh: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

November 14, 2023

Beloved,bride,Broken,Christ,Community,Love,Marriage

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 13:1-5

Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. 4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.”

Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) In its context, who is the writer addressing from verse 1 onward?

Much like the apostle Paul does in his letters, the unnamed author of Hebrews makes a shift from the direction of his letter leading up to this point as he prepares his closing. The transition of verse 1 signals an upcoming practical exhortation to believers.

As chapter 13 begins, the writer offers final encouragement to live in such a way that honors one another. In the previous verse, he referred to his audience as participants with him in the kingdom of God. He writes, “Since we receive it … let us be thankful.” (Hebrews 12:28) He begins by speaking to them regarding brotherly and sisterly (philadelphia) love.

The Scriptures teach that all the saints are to demonstrate a familial love for one another within their spiritual relationship. What we read about in verse 1 is an affectionate love among men and women who are connected to each other through Christ, therefore are unified spiritually just as a biological family is unified by blood. (John 17:21-23)

The reference to “brotherly love” is a combination of the Greek word phileo (Biblehub.com) with the Greek word adelphos (Biblestudytools.com). In its different forms, the word adelphos occurs several times in the New Testament with a variety of meanings which can be determined by looking at the context.

Adelphoi, the plural form of the word, is used by Paul in Galatians 3:27-29 to refer to siblings in the family of God who are heirs of promise. It identifies those who are in a sacred relationship with one another in Christ. There is to be a unique ‘kindredness’ of love and honor among those who are in the family of God through Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:20)

The Everyday Application

1) In its context, who is the writer addressing from verse 1 onward?

Since the book’s author never names himself nor specifically designates his audience, both are an uncertainty for the Bible reader. Ancient theories suggest that the original recipients were Jewish Christians, hence the title Hebrews. (Hebrews 1:1: “Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors…)

If that is so, the reader would have understood the book’s many references to the Old Testament. Becoming familiar with the biblical traditions which were previously taught helps us interpret the writer’s mindset and possible meaning. It guides us to understand God and learn what He thinks about practical living.

For instance, reading the psalmist’s reflection in Psalm 133:1 provides us insight on his perspective of unity. His expression was possibly indicative of his own experiences of the hostile existence between those who should be kindreds. (1 Kings 15:3-6) David, the author of Psalm 133, knew it was better to have unity and love rather than disharmony and dishonor.

Continually demonstrating brotherly and sisterly love toward one another is essential for us as believers. Dear GT Sister, let’s pray for God to ignite within us a deep love for all our sisters in Christ. There are women in our sphere of influence who need our genuine compassion and care. I encourage you to look around within your own church family to find them. I assure you there’s someone who needs a caring friend.

May we prayerfully look toward others with our eyes and hearts open to God’s prompting to really see them and reach out to one of them today.

The Original Intent

2) What connection does the writer make in verses 2-3?

Family ties were common in Jewish culture with a rich heritage of honor running through their bloodlines. Psalms and Proverbs give us several examples of familial ties that would have existed within God’s people. (Proverbs 1:8, Proverbs 3:11, Proverbs 12:4, Psalm 127:3-5)

The Ten Commandments given by God indicate the vital role that family plays in His covenant with them as six of the ten handle relationships between people. (Deuteronomy 5:16-21) Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21), the writer of Hebrews is making sure the reader understands the responsibility they have beyond their physical family. (verse 1) He urges them to carry their hospitality into the realm of potentially uncomfortable.

His mention of angels in verse 2 in interesting. Was the writer remembering the strangers who appeared at the door of Abraham? (Genesis 18:1-8) We learn from that Old Testament story the magnitude of extending hospitality to needy strangers! The author then mentions in verse 3 the prisoner and the outcast.

It could be tempting to gather with family and never consider the unseen suffering of those beyond those we love. Not only were they to be ready to serve those who needed hospitality, but also those who needed their remembrance. (Greek: mimnesko) This was a call to share in the suffering of others by consistently being mindful of those who were in prison or were abused (likely because of their faith).

Whether it was tangible support, prayers, or simply reminding each other of those suffering, there was to be acknowledgment and love for the “unseen”! Jesus told His followers that when they refused to help “the least of these brothers and sisters”— they were refusing to help the Lord Himself. (Matthew 25:35-45) In verses 2-3, we learn genuine love isn’t neglectful of others’ needs!

The Everyday Application

2) What connection does the writer make in verses 2-3?

Friends, as women of Jesus, we should be consistently developing a heart of love for others. Some of them sit near us each week in our local churches. But there are more!

Maybe you’ve read in your church’s ministry announcements of opportunities to love the marginalized and often disregarded. Or maybe you can open your home to someone who needs shelter. Not everyone can serve in the same capacity or give the same amount of time to community ministries or local missions’ efforts, but we can probably do something to demonstrate Jesus’ love for all.

Maybe it’s helping someone who is helping someone. Some churches offer groups who work together to minister to prisoners, widows, orphans and the poor. Women can also lead the way by joining together with other women to form teams to serve alongside one another. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11)

There are many ways we can serve “the least of these.” Careportal.org serves kids and families by connecting believers to real-time needs in their own cities. See if it’s available in your area! Likely, you also know women who are striving to love Jesus well who may live across the world from us.

Gracefully Truthful is a great resource for finding and “meeting” women from other cities, states, and nations. We would love to increase our international opportunities to love and honor women all over the world who desire to follow Jesus in deeper ways.

Join a GT POD, register to study with us, or perhaps the Lord is calling you to join our team and write with us! Maybe you can’t move across the world and serve suffering believers. But we can ALL … 1) pray, 2) give and 3) remember those who are in need.

The Original Intent

3) Why might the writer include the subject of marriage in this passage? (verse 4)

The author of Hebrews continues his teaching on love by offering instruction on how to reflect God’s image as faithful, God-honoring wives. We may feel the subject is out of place as it can seem like it has been inserted in the middle of a thought without connection to its surroundings. So, we must ask ourselves if and how it connects.

The writer explains how marriage is to be honorable and “the marriage bed kept undefiled.” (verse 4) The Greek word translated “undefiled” (amiantos) is used three other times in the New Testament, and it carries the idea of being “set apart.” (Hebrews 7:26-27)

Just as it was essential to honor one another within community, the author commands the recipients to show honor within marriage by having an exclusive sexual relationship within marriage. An honoring kind of love in marriage guards against betrayal, specifically sexual unfaithfulness.

Notice the importance of honor in marriage: ONLY in verse 4 of our passage does the verse come with a warning of God’s judgment. We don’t always know God’s will about something. But in this we do! Scripture tells us it is God’s will we abstain from sexual immorality. (1 Thessalonians 4:2-5)

God does not take lightly dishonoring the marriage vow. The word for honor (timios) used in verse 4 means precious. Marriage was to be considered as precious. It’s the word used in 1 Corinthians 3:12 regarding precious stones and in 1 Peter 1:19 in reference to the precious blood of Jesus.

Considering marriage as precious and priceless should instill in the recipients the value God placed on marital faithfulness. It was a strong command and a lesson in the significance of honoring one another in marriage in a marked way.

The Everyday Application

3) Why might the writer include the subject of marriage in this passage? (verse 4)

We have read that loving others in the right way works for the good of everyone: for the brothers and sisters in Christ, for the strangers, and for the prisoners. But in the midst of these thoughts, we also learn how to please God in marriage.

Calling people to lifelong faithfulness was as counter-cultural then as it is today. Though seemingly a random mention, I believe the writer meant to include it here to indicate its significance. My friend, if you’re a wife as I am, may we understand that honoring our marriages is good for us and for society. Malachi 2:13-15, Proverbs 14;34, Because this is God’s original plan, He would not be just if he did not judge those who disgrace marriage and treat it with contempt. (Psalm 89:14)

Yes, all Jesus-loving women are called honor others. But Jesus-loving wives are also called to honor our marriages. Scriptures teach us that our marriages are to be set apart as precious. If you are following along with our GT theme of “She”, we are considering the intentional delight of the Lord God who formed femininity and wrapped it in strength, courage, and dignity for the purpose of reflecting the image of the Lord who made “She”.

There are so many ways “SHE” can become involved in reflecting the image of the Lord. For wives, we have one particular way we are to reflect Him, by honoring our marriages in remaining faithful to our husbands and making marriage an exclusive sexual union. Friends, please know this: if you’ve failed, there’s grace. There’s always grace. (1 John 1:9)

You can walk in forgiveness, choose faithfulness, and trust God to provide you with strength to remain faithful.

The Original Intent

4) What essential truth is expressed in verse 5 to give the believer confidence and peace in all our circumstances?

We read in the previous passage how grace and thankfulness are to be lived out, knowing the reality of the unshakeable kingdom of God. (Hebrews 12:14-29)

With this in their minds, believers are to live with one another in loving and honorable ways within 1) faith relationships (verse 1), 2) local communities (verses 2-3), and 3) marriages (verse 4). In addition to these responsibilities, the author instructs believers to rightfully consider money matters. Again, the verse may seem to be an interruption of thought until we notice the contrast from the previous verses.

The perspective of a person who follows Christ is that our love is to be given to people, not money. We are to be content with what we have because of God’s faithful presence. (verse 5) There is no reason to place priority on keeping money for our security when we have God Himself.

The author’s goal was to communicate that what matters most in the kingdom of God was the forever relationships we’re creating. Believers are to honor others by sacrificially giving to them, honor marriage by being faithful, and honor God by not being consumed with self.

Jesus also addressed money issues in ways least expected. (Luke 12:13-21) The Jewish recipients of this letter had faced plenty of adversity, and they felt the sting of abuse, prison and need. (Hebrews 10:32-34) But they are reminded that God had made a promise to them just as He had to Moses (Deuteronomy 31:6) and to Joshua (Joshua 1:5).

This isn’t as much about money as it is about WHO God is. He is the believer’s confidence and contentment as He was the apostle Paul’s. (Philippians 4:11-13) They could graciously serve others, even if they had to sacrifice their own possessions.

The Everyday Application

4) What essential truth is expressed in verse 5 to give the believer confidence and peace in all our circumstances?

It is in the DNA of humanity to worry. (Matthew 6:19-34) But when we worry, it’s a sign that we believe something can go permanently wrong. So, we begin to make plans to save and gather all the things for ourselves to be “secure”. But, Sister, we don’t need to do this!

What a wonderful promise we read, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you or abandon you.’” He Himself. That’s the Lord God of all creation. Even though this is probably a reference to Deuteronomy 31:6, God’s never-forsaking presence is a prevalent promise found throughout the Bible.

Long before Jesus promised His disciples His presence (Matthew 28:19-20), God promised to be with His people. The Old Testament believers were assured of God’s presence with them. The psalmist often declared the Lord’s nearness to him in days of distress or trouble. The prophet Isaiah spoke God’s promise to the people when he told them the Lord would give a sign of a baby born of a virgin whose name would be Emmanuel, meaning God with us.

One day, all true believers will be with the Lord forever and ever! (Genesis 28:15, Psalm 46, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21-23, and Revelation 21:3) So, my Friend, the end of verse 5 is really the key to obeying the rest of the instructions in this passage. We can love others and we can honor our marriages because God is faithful!

“Now, trusting anyone is risky. But the biblical story portrays a God who has been faithful all along and whose promises were fulfilled in the story of Jesus. And so, as we look out at the obstacles facing us and our world, we’re invited to take that same risk and join Abraham, David, and the people of God in trusting that God is overflowing with faithfulness.” (bibleproject.com)

Tags :

bride,Lover,marriage,she,Wife,Woman

Share This :