1998-11-13 - The Excellent Woman of God

The Virtuous Woman Series, Part 23

Proverbs 31:29 "Many women have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

My son plays the cello. He practices as often as he possibly can. I remember when he first started, I really wished that there was some way that I could tactfully wear ear plugs, or at least burn the thing. The sounds being drawn out of those strings were somewhere between the sound that a cat makes when it's tail is stepped on and sticky brakes. He kept at it, though, and now, 4 years later it's a pleasure to listen to him. Even in practice. He recently earned first chair in the cello section, and was accepted into the "All-State Honors Orchestra". He is excelling in his playing of the cello. It has taken practice and hard work, but it was worth it.

I think it's the same with this excellent woman of God. She probably didn't always get it right at first, and I'm willing to bet that there were days when it just seemed too hard to put others first, too difficult to remember that God was her reason for living. I can almost rest assured that sometimes she didn't want to get up and fix breakfast, and now and again, her priorities got out of balance. 1 John 1:9 holds a promise for us all though:

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, some days weren't perfect, and some moments she just plain blew it. But she knew the secret; she humbled herself before her God, admitted to Him her failure, her sin, then she got up and did it right. That's what grace is all about - the opportunity to do it again and get it right. Something else, too, I am also willing to bet that the more she got up and got it right, the more she got right. Funny how it works that way.

One of these days we are going to stand before our Father. One of these days He is going to look at the course of our lives. One of these days, I want to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful child. Many women have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." It is only Christ in me Who makes this future a reality.

Oh, my Father, I thank You so much for You. I thank You that in all of Your holiness, in Your perfection, in all that You are, not once have You done anything but help me up again. Lord, it just boggles my mind that You constantly work in us and through us to bring out the best in us. Thank You. I thank You for Proverbs 24:16 which reads, "For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again." How neat! How wonderful that You have given us the promise that we can rise up - again, that with Your help we don't have to stay down when we fall. Thank You. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the Cross. Thank You for accepting me into Your family. I love You Lord. Amen

Sandi

cfdevsandi@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org/