More on... The Reputation of a Godly Woman
by pamela spurling
Proverbs 31.10 says, "Who can find
a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
I have been thinking about this a lot and I have written to you about this.. As
Christian women, we have a reputation to maintain
and I tell you of this quite
often. I have your reputation to protect. Wherever you go, you in some manner, make an
impression on the people with whom you spend time even in a brief moment. Its funny
how even relative strangers feel they think they know a person and if they know that woman
is a Christian, they think they know what all Christian women are like... and amazingly,
it mainly depends on appearance and attitude or behavior. How can I say this with
confidence?
Think about people you have met that represent a company or an
organization
many times your impression of that whole company or organization is
based solely on your perception of that individual. Whatever their appearance, whatever
their behavior, that is the impression that will define that group or company for you.
Have you found this to be so? I know that many times I will not return to a store because
of the attitude, appearance, or behavior of an employee and I think I even subconsciously
decide I dont like the whole chain for that reason. Yes, I know its
silly---but its true! Maybe you are like this, too. There was a thread here
lemme see if I can pick it up again
So, again, reputation
are you mindful of
how your appearance or behavior is affecting the reputation of other sisters in the LORD?
You may think it doesnt matter what others think---and youre right
we
are not going to be able to please all the people all of the time, but stop and think for
a minute if you are careless about the way you dress or the way you speak to strangers or
how you treat your husband, the watching world is taking note and they are forming an
impression. Of You? Well, yes, but thats not the most important thing
Of your
sisters in the LORD? Well, yes, but thats not the most important thing. How about
your husband? His reputation is worth protecting, isnt it? And even though
thats important, and I talk about that in just a moment, the most important---even
crucial, is that you are an "advertisement" for the LORD.
You portray to the
watching world what a Christian woman looks like, you represent a Christian womans
behavior. Is that sobering to you? It is to me. It is because I can recall more events
than I care to remember, where my behavior didnt line up with the precious Word of
God. Actually more times than Im even aware of, my behavior or attitude doesnt
line up with what Gods Word says about me. So I pray often that the LORD would make
me a virtuous woman---that He would work in my life to paint portrait of a godly woman. I
desire that when other look at me, they would see Jesus.
We listened to the Abbas family sing in church last evening, it was all so beautiful,
but one song in particular has stayed with me; the words to the chorus go like this:
"Hide me behind Your Cross
If I live on my own all I do will be loss, Let Your
presence in me lead others to believe, Lord, Hide me behind Your cross. So do you see a
bit more of what I mean by your appearance and behavior? It has everything and nothing to
do with your outfit
it has everything and nothing to do with your attitude.
Its something more than that
its a "way" about you. Its
knowing the ways of the LORD. Ps 128:1 "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD;
that walketh in his ways."
See what I mean about the "ways?"
Hosea 14.9 says "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and
he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them:
but the transgressors shall fall therein." And then, in Micah 4:2 we read: "And
many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and
to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in
his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem." Thats why I often pray: to the LORD: teach me Thy ways, show me Thy
paths
Psalm 119 is a wonderful Psalm to "pray back to God."
I pray that we would each one desire that precious intimate walk with our LORD and
Savior and that others would be drawn to Him by our conversation and behavior.
pamela spurling ~ The Welcome Home ~ 2000
Back to WelcomeHome
messages