JAC Online

The Army Bride
by Captain Tanya Dooley

To My Lovely Bride,

I am waiting for you. I have watched you grow since you were formed. I sent leaders to guide you, teach you My ways. I gave you My Holy Spirit to empower you. I gave you scriptures to study and learn from your forefathers. I even shared with you about my Son who gave up His life for you and in three days arose from the dead.

In your early years, you had great zeal! You had passion! You were on fire! You could care less about what the world thought of you. You loved Me as I commanded with all your heart, soul, and mind. You were even willing to die for me. You wanted others to hear about my love for them. Then just as your fathers, you twisted my words so they would make you comfortable. You wanted to please man, make them feel good. Yet in the process you left me, your First Love behind. You have become so busy with having the greatest house of worship, the greatest songs, the greatest programs, raising money to attract people to hear feel good sermons. Be aware, you have left Me for the world, and because of this, you cannot recognize the enemy. Some of you don't even know who the enemy is or because My Word has been twisted, you say there is no enemy. His name is Satan and he has a legion of demons with him. He is the prince of the air. He has brought you down. Yet, I have already won the victory! I have defeated him. His time is short. I am here to rescue you if you will let me. Reject his lies, submit to me, draw close to me and I will draw close to you.

Where am I in your worship? I don't want feel good music, I want you. I want your life to be a daily sacrifice of worship. I want your praise and adoration. If you seek Me, the blessings will follow. If you seek Me and My heart, My Spirit will dwell in you and your house of worship. If you seek Me first and foremost, You will not need anything else. You are my temple. You are my dwelling place. I want to be welcomed but you have pushed me out with busyness and pride. I am a jealous God. I want your full devotion. I am not interested in your buildings, programs, and songs. I am interested in You. The rest will fall into perfect harmony out of your love for Me.

Come back to Me. I miss you. I want to clothe you with My righteousness. I want to lavish you with my love. I want to be in you and you in Me. Dine with Me. Abide with Me. I love you! You are precious to Me. I have wept over you. I have rejoiced with you. I want to hold you in My arms forever. Please don't reject Me again. Leave the world behind and follow Me. I am waiting for you. Come to Me.

Love, Your Loving Husband, GOD


Introduction: Who is the Church?

With so many denominations and religious sects, it can be quite confusing as to who the church is and should be. Catholics, Episcopalians, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Pentecostals are just a few denominations that we hear about on a daily basis. Then there are Buddhists, Muslims, New Agers, Wiccans, and many other “religions.” Today the main focus is on self and being your own god. God is no longer the focus of our nation or world.

The church is not just the place that we go and worship. It is not a denomination or religion nor just a place for weddings, funerals, baptisms, masses, confessions, Easter, Mother’s Day, or Christmas. When all is said and done, the building is just rubble and dust.

The church is “Christ’s bride.” “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9b). When a sinner comes to the Lord, repents of his sin, is saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit, he becomes an heir to the kingdom. He becomes a part of the church, the body of believers, who love the Lord and is loyal to Him. “Theologically, we have been discovering anew that the Church is not an appendage to the Gospel: it is itself a part of the Gospel. The Gospel cannot be separated from that new people of God in which its nature is to be made manifest” (Stephen Neill).

From the beginning of time, God shows His love to His people time and time again. He gave Adam a mate. He gave Noah and his family a chance to live. He gave Moses the ability to set the people free from the Pharaoh’s captivity. He gave Joshua the courage and strength to possess the Promised Land. He gave Solomon wisdom, David friendship, Daniel favor, Isaiah His presence. He made Israel His chosen people. When they went against Him and worshiped idols, He still loved them, and out of discipline, He allowed them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and be taken into captivity. Through the prophets, God told Israel of His love. How, He was there from the time they were conceived to the time they died. He loved them so much that He gave His only Son. Yet they rejected Christ and the door was then opened for the whosoever, Jew and Gentile alike to have this gift of love, Jesus Christ, for free. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

After Christ ascended into heaven, He sent His promised Holy Spirit as recorded in the book of Acts. This was the beginning of what we call the church today. Yet once again, just as our forefathers have done, we have become so in love with the world, we have lost sight of what we should be. Programs, money, doctrines, and self gratification have become idols. “The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down. Our Master expects us to accomplish results, even if they bring opposition and conflict. Anything is better than compromise, apathy, and paralysis. God give to us an intense cry for the old time power of the Gospel and the Holy Ghost!” (A B Simpson). We need to regain our focus and be a force to be reckoned with. We need to be prepared to meet our Groom as the bride of Christ. Let us explore His Word and with His help see what He called the church to be: Christ’s virtuous wife.

Chapter One: The Marriage Vows

The guests have arrived. Anticipation is in the air. Pews are lined with bows and beautiful colors. Candles are burning, the organ is playing. The men are lined at the front with the groom waiting nervously. The music slows. The first one to come in is a small girl throwing flowers onto the floor. Several other ladies follow close behind. Then with tears in eyes, everyone begins to rise. The long wait has come to a close. The march begins and the bride makes her way down the aisle. She is beautiful, radiant, dressed in white. There can be no flaws today, for this is the day she has always dreamed of.

She arrives to meet her groom face to face and the vows are then exchanged. Their love for each other is made known publicly. This would be the beginning of the rest of their lives. The preacher pronounces them man and wife. The kiss seals this claim. Then hand in hand they meet the crowd as Mr. and Mrs. She takes his name.

In the Old Testament, festivities before a wedding lasted a week. The bride and groom were dressed and treated like a king and queen. The father of the groom selected the bride, but she had the right to refuse him. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The groom agreed to pay the father of the bride a price to compensate him for the loss of his daughter. Jacob gave up fourteen years of work in order to have Rachel as his wife (see Genesis 29:15-30). The father gave a dowry for his daughter; a gift of money, slaves or land. During the betrothal, the groom prepared a home for the bride and the bride kept herself busy. When it was time for the wedding day, the groom came to the bride’s house to escort her to his home.

There is much preparation today for weddings. The chapel, officiator, presider, music, dress, tuxedos, meal, wedding party, place for the honeymoon, etc. all have to be chosen with much thought. But before that preparation even begins to take place, there has to be a proposal. The groom to be chooses his bride, the one he wants to share the rest of his life with. She has a choice to join him or refuse his proposal.

God chose us before Creation. “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). It is our choice to choose a relationship with Him or refuse His invitation to everlasting life. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). God has given us the proposal. He is asking us if we will join in an intimate relationship with Him.

The church will find fulfillment when Christ comes back for her, just like a bride anticipates her husband. “And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). As a bride looks forward to her wedding day, are we really anticipating Christ’s return? Is our heart’s desire to be filled with Him, to be bathed in His love, to be overflowing with His living water, to be lavished by His kisses and embrace? “My lover is mine and I am His” (Song of Solomon 2:16).

Oh church, if we could just see how much He loves us. “The love of God is one of the great realities of the universe, a pillar upon which the hope of the world rests. But it is a personal, intimate thing too. God does not love populations, He loves people. He loves not masses but men” (A. W. Tozer). Once we realize His love for us on a personal level, it will be easy to say yes. Yes, Lord, I accept Your proposal. Yes, Lord, I love you. Yes, Lord, I am Yours and You are mine.

The first response that we need to give is accepting Him as Lord and Saviour. When we do, we then become heirs of the kingdom of God. He accepts us as one of His own. “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). The basic purpose of marriage is found in the bond it creates and the context for mutual growth it provides (Revell p. 694). Out of this growth in our love for God, we will begin to reject our former things and put on Christlikeness. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

When we begin to change, we will seek more of Christ and He will give more of Himself to us. We will be transformed. This transformation can only happen through the power of the Holy Spirit who resides in us. When we get to the point that we realize that we are nothing without Christ, and allow Him to have everything, the real journey continues as a man and wife.

The Hebrew word for husband was Baal meaning lord or master, possessor, owner, and obtainer. How interesting that this was the name given to the Canaanite deity that many began to worship. The word also implied ownership rather than relationship. What is our Baal? What replaces our time that should be spent with God? God wanted to be called “ishi” meaning “my husband, being revered and adored by his wife.” He wants an exclusive relationship with Him. Anything else is considered adultery.

The husband was required to have weekly sexual relations with his wife but could not force her. He was to supply her with food and money whenever he went on a journey. He could not move from one part of the country to another without his wife’s permission. He could not forbid his wife to visit her parents even if they lived far apart. Christ tells us that the primary responsibility of the husband is to love and cherish his wife. As the head of the marriage, the husband is to imitate Christ and accept responsibility for his wife’s nurture. “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body’” (Ephesians 5:23).

The wife’s duties were to grind flour, bake, launder, cook, make the beds, spin wool, and nurse her children. She could also operate a home workshop, sell its products and keep the income. She was to prepare their children for school. She had the privilege to discipline the children. She also cared for guests. Christ wants wives to be submissive to their husbands. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22).

Christ gave us this example on how the marriage should work, to represent how the church should be as the bride. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Ephesians 5:25-31).

Will we allow God to be our “ishi”? “Marriage is not a fence to hem you in; it’s a guardrail to protect what’s inside” (Zig Ziglar). God loves and cherishes us. He wants to protect us in His embrace. Our love and honor for Him will be evident in how we submit ourselves to Him. He is the head of the church. May we be presented as holy and virtuous to Him.

Chapter Two: Love for her husband

The Virtuous Wife
Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12)

Being virtuous is being the husband’s crown. The crown represents deity, honor, respect, worth and royalty. “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband…” (Proverbs 12:4). She brings honor and glory to him.

Ever wonder why a woman takes so long to get ready for a simple outing? There are many jokes about her, but she is making sure that she looks good for her man. When she comes out of the bathroom with her hair styled, her makeup on, her sweet perfume, she makes her husband quite happy. He will never admit it but inside he is bursting with pride. He looks forward to going out with his beautiful woman that he loves so much. He feels like a king, lord of the castle. She is his crown.

Most crowns have precious jewels encircled in them. The wife is valued more than any precious jewels, more than rubies. She is of noble character. “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD” (Proverbs 19:14).

This woman of God is one that can be trusted. Her husband has no concern of her committing adultery, gossiping, lying, or stealing. He is secure in their relationship. They are faithful to each other. With her beside him, he lacks nothing. He does not need to gain another love for she makes him complete.
Trust comes out of submission. God’s Word says that women are to be submissive to their husbands as the husband is submissive to God. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18).
Submission is realizing that the woman is the weaker sex and God has placed the man as the head of the household. The man is there to protect and provide for the woman. The woman in turn shows respect to her husband by submitting to his leadership.

The virtuous wife does her husband no harm. She only wants to do good for him. She makes sure that her relationship to him is priority. Her love for him cannot be denied. She does everything she can to please him until the day she dies.

Christ is our husband. “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth” (Isaiah 54:5). Our total allegiance should be given to Him. We are to be His crown. He adores us. He loves us. Our lives should bring honor and glory to Him.

When we go to “church” meetings, are we there looking what we can get from God or are we looking at how we can please Him? Everything we participate in as a corporate body should bring honor and glory to God. Much preparation is brought to programming, and usually it is to make people feel comfortable and have the sense of feeling His presence. Yes, we should seek His presence, but most importantly, we should seek His heart. What makes God pleased with our worship? He wants us to worship in Spirit and in truth. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

Worship does not just happen on Sunday morning or whenever the doors are opened at our place of fellowship. It is a daily relationship with God our Maker, Lover, and Friend. Everything we do and say should be out of worship for Him. We cannot worship God and curse our enemies the next day. “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10). Our words have power and we need to be very careful what comes out of our mouths.

Can God really trust us? If we are gossiping, lying, cursing others, and not being real in our relationship with Him, then the answer is no. No, He cannot trust us. A virtuous wife is trustworthy. She does nothing to make her husband question her love and loyalty to him. What consumes our time? Family, friends, television, computers, internet, cell phones, work? If Christ is our priority, He should be the first person we think of when we wake up and the last when we lie down. He should be a part of our conversations. He should be the very air that we breathe.

In order for us to be effective as a church, we need to come to the realization that we are nothing without Christ. He is our cornerstone. He is our Rock. He is our Everything. When He sees that He has our total devotion, He will give more of Himself to us.

The marriage is consummated through sexual intercourse. The two flesh become one. Once this happens, there is no room for adultery. The more the woman gives to her man, the more he is satisfied. He knows that she loves him, and thinks that he is everything to her.

Jesus wants us to have intimacy with Him, not sexual intimacy, but an intimacy that ordinary men cannot fathom. He speaks of this in John 6, in a beautiful depiction of partaking of His flesh and blood. “Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven — not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:53-58). Jesus wants us to be in daily communion with Him. The more time we spend with Him getting to know Him better and more intimately, the easier it will be to worship in spirit and in truth. He will then be able to trust us.

Christ does not want just a part of us. He wants all of us. So often we come to Him and give Him an area of our lives and leave the rest till “later”. Why wait until He comes back to take us home to really experience Him? He wants to give us more than we can ever imagine, but so many are too scared, afraid of the unknown. We have heard the old adage that God cannot be put into a box, that is true, but God cannot move further in our lives unless we allow Him. He is a gentleman. He will not force us to love Him and accept Him. It is our responsibility to seek Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

After living with each other, married couples can finish each other’s sentences, share common goals, and have a similar mindset. As we give of ourselves to God, we will be changed. We will be transformed. Naturally, we will become more like Him. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). If we want to please God the rest of our days, we need to be serious about our relationship with Him. The more time we spend in His Word and in prayer, the more we will know Him. It is not enough to have knowledge about God. We need to get know Him intimately. “True religion is a union of God with the soul, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or in the apostle’s phrase, it is Christ formed in us” (Henry Scougal).

Church, Christ is to be our priority. He is to be the first one that we devote ourselves to. We cannot minister to our family, our neighbors or our enemies unless we are devoted totally to Him. Nothing else matters unless we are completely, helplessly, and hopelessly in love with Christ. When we get to that level of love, the things of the world will not matter. We will want to do everything to please our lover. Christ is our Beloved, and we are His. We are His crown.


Chapter Three: Love for Her Household

She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle. (Proverbs 31:13-18)

The sun is blazing. Her oldest daughter is sweeping the floors. Her son is carving a chair in the backyard. She looks up and wipes the sweat off her brow. The baby is crying, he’s hungry again. It just seemed like minutes ago he nursed. She pulls him close to her bosom and nurses him again. With one hand under the baby, she bends to scoop more dirt and plants wheat. The hearth is hot and the smell of fresh bread is beckoning. The baby stops nursing. She lifts herself up, goes into the house to prepare supper.

The family then eats and goes to bed. She is on the side of her bed praying, thanking God for the many blessings He has given her this day. She goes into the living room near the spindle, and begins to sew a new shirt for her husband. He had snagged the good one on the boat earlier while catching a large net full of fish. There is a pot of stew cooking for tomorrow on the fire. Once the shirt is done, she goes to bed only to wake up at the crack of dawn to start breakfast and pick the grapes off the vine to sell for wine.

How many of us today would keep this type of schedule, especially in the extreme heat of summer? In Biblical times, women were expected to take care of the household, the chores, making clothes, cooking, etc. She nursed the children, taught them before sending them to school, and disciplined them. Husbands that had a wife that was hardworking were considered blessed.

Here we see in Proverbs, that the virtuous wife did not mind getting her hands dirty. She made sure that everyone in the house was taken care of. She did not look out for herself, others came first. She even worked to have money for her family. The time of day did not matter, just as long as the family was fed, dressed, and had a place to lay their head to rest at night.

This woman is special. She is not afraid to work. She provides for her household. She girds herself with strength. She is a light that does not burn out. What a lot this says to us as the church.

We are very good at looking beyond the church trying to win people into our congregations. However, if the spiritual level is dead or suffering, outsiders will not want to be a part of the problem. We need to focus on the issues inside the church before going out. How do we do this?

First we need to not be afraid to work. This is not just the pastor’s job. Everyone in the church needs to work together. There needs to be a sense of unity. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14). If there is no unity, the work is spent on solving problems rather than winning souls to the kingdom. We are to seek the things of God, not the things of man. Sometimes it means getting our hands dirty. Issues may need to be dealt with that are hindering the work of the Spirit. At times, it may seem like everything is wrong, but if our priority is Christ and the Presence of God in the church, we need to work at it. As said in the previous chapter, we should be seeking to please God and what better way than to be working for Him.

The early church was very good at caring for each other. When one was sick, another would bring food to the family, and then laid hands upon them and prayed. When one had sinned, they were prayed over and forgiven. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:13-16). If only we could get back to this practice today! Instead of putting each other down or holding onto bitterness, we need to love and look out for each other.

We need to gird ourselves with strength. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”(Philippians 4:13). Our true strength comes from God. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We need to take the time alone and corporately to worship and seek Him. We are in a war. Satan will do anything he can to destroy the body of Christ. He is afraid of a church that is strong. But with God’s strength, we have the victory. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). We need to understand that the main cause of most church conflict is our ignorance of the enemy and not having the strength to fight him. We need to be an army that will stand up and fight.

If we know that someone is in need of prayer, pray. Don’t share it as gossip. Don’t belittle them. Pray for them and then encourage them. If one falls, pick him up and dust him off. If others see us united and strong, they will more than likely join us.

We need to be a shining light. No matter what time of day or night, we need to be reflecting Christ. He is our light and salvation. With Him, there is nothing to fear. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1). Our conduct will show whose we are. What do people think when they see us individually? What do they think when they see us as a church? What image are we portraying?

Are we taking care of each other? God wants us to have Him first and foremost, but then He also wants us to look out for each other. Where do we stand?

Chapter Four: Love for Others

She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
(Proverbs 31:20)

They are your next door neighbors, friends, and those you pass by daily. They live pay check to pay check. Food is scarce and the clothing is tattered. Most mock them saying that they need to work harder and stop being so lazy. But that’s it, they do work, they struggle trying to make ends meet especially with the rising costs of living.

There is a great need. People are hungry. People are lonely. They are children without parents. They are homeless. What are we doing about them? Are we eager to laugh and point the finger? Or are we willing to stretch a hand?

Everyone knows The Salvation Army as a helping hand to the poor. There is no question that they excel in this area. However, what about the church in general? Are the members of the body of Christ willing to help those who are lonely and less fortunate? It goes beyond the food lines and social service offices. Are we willing to give up our own food so someone else can eat? Are we willing to give our clothes and shoes to someone who has none? Are we willing to give of our tithes in order for the work to go on?

As the Bride of Christ, we are to be willing to help the poor and the destitute. The Founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth, wanted to make sure that they were taken care of, he stated…“While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight- I’ll fight to the very end!”

God calls us to reach out. Once we are spiritually alive, we can reach out to the lost and down trodden. They will see Christ in us and they will want to be a part of our church. We may never know who we are reaching out to. A familiar contemporary Christian song asks the question, ‘Who will be Jesus to them?’

Jesus talks about this in the book of Matthew. “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'” (Matthew 25:34-40).

The more you love someone, the more you become like them. Christ wants us to be more like Him. We will give to those in need as He gave. This goes with the two commandments that Jesus gave… “Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

God must be first and foremost in our lives, then our family, then the church.

Chapter Five: Clothed In Righteousness

She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
-Proverbs 31:21-27

When asked who the greatest influence in their life was, most would say it is their mother. A mother takes care of the household, raising the children, and working, whether it is in the home or outside the home. “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life” (Abraham Lincoln).

The woman portrayed in this portion of scripture is a mother and a wife who is not afraid of work. She takes care of her household, and herself. She works to raise money. Strength and honor clothe her. When she speaks others listen because she is a woman of wisdom. She pleases her husband and is his glory. He is known throughout the city gates. The elders of the land respect him.

The wife is to be the glory of her husband. She reflects her husband’s leadership in the family. They are one in body and in spirit. She should carry herself in such a way that would make him proud. She is his right hand. The wife’s duty is to take care of her husband and to love and nurture the family. She is to be kind and teach her children the ways of the Lord. She is to only speak good things from her lips, not gossip or slander. When others see the way she lives, they see a reflection of her husband as the head of the household.

Christ is the head of the household known as the church. The way we live is a reflection of our relationship with Him. “We are called to passionately embrace our God at every turn, through every minute, and in very way possible” (Author Unknown). The more that we are in relationship with God, the more we will reflect him in everything we do. We will be busy working for the Lord. It will come naturally as we grow closer to Him. We will not worry what comes against us; we know that our hope is in Christ. He is our shield, our protection.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday” (Psalm 91:1-6).

Strength and honor are attributes of the Holy Trinity. “Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place” (1 Chronicles 16:27). If we are in right relationship with Him, strength and honor will clothe us. We will want to do everything and anything to please Him. This is how we should live… “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. and those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:16-26).

We are to die to self and be alive in Christ. Everything we do and say should mirror Christ. Our words should uplift, not tear down. The book of James teaches us a lot about the tongue. We need to be careful about everything we say because we can never take our words back…. “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:5-10).

What we say reflects what is in our hearts. Words are powerful. We have a choice of how we speak. Are we going to speak positively or negatively. Others can tell a lot about us by our words. We can ask God for wisdom to take control of our tongues. God wants us to bless others not curse them. He wants us to speak truth not gossip. A question to think about, would we share the same gossip or negative words with Jesus? “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:12-13). God wants us to be positive and encourage each other. We cannot show others tender mercies or kindness if we are slandering them.

What are we reflecting, ourselves or Christ? “I think that most Christians would be better pleased if the Lord did not inquire into their personal affairs too closely. They want Him to save them, to keep them happy, and to take them off to heaven at last, but not to be too inquisitive about their conduct or services” (A.W. Tozer). Oh, church, why are we so afraid? If we want others to see Christ, we must start reflecting Christ in everything we do and make Him known throughout the nations. Let us let go of ourselves and be totally changed and radical for Him!

Chapter Six: Rewards for The Faithful

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
(Proverbs 31:28-31)

The winner for the Miss Universe pageant is… Ladies from around the world have spent hours, months, even years preparing for this moment. The dresses, speeches, and talents had to be picked, practiced, and perfected. How many really do remember the name of the one who won the pageant? They are often forgotten as time passes by.

Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, these are names that have become a part of us. Why do we remember them but not the ones who have put forth all the effort being the most beautiful and talented woman in the world? They possess a beauty that goes farther than outward appearances. “For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.” These women did just that. Their legacy will live for generation after generation.

In the Bible several women made a difference in how they lived and they each received a reward for their faithfulness. We can learn from them. Rahab, Ruth, and of course Mary are just a few. Rahab was a prostitute who kept the spies safe in her house when they were sent into Jericho. She hid them when the authorities tried to find them. Because of her obedience, she and her family were spared when the walls of Jericho came down. Everyone else in the city was killed. She also became part of the lineage of Jesus.

“Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, ‘Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.’ So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, ‘Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.’ Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, ‘Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.’ (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof) (Joshua 2:1-6). “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31).

Ruth had lost her husband in a terrible famine and moved with her mother in law, Naomi despite her pleas to go back to her home town (Ruth 1:1-15). “But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16). Because of her loyalty, she was remarried to Boaz and became a part of the lineage of David and Jesus. “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, ‘There is a son born to Naomi.’ And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David (Ruth 4:13-17).

As we all know, Mary was the mother of Jesus. History tells us that she was just a young teenager but she was faithful to God and found favor with Him. She was visited by an angel who told her that she was going to conceive a child. Imagine what she must have thought. She even questioned the angel to how this could be possible when she had not had any sexual relations especially since she was only betrothed and not yet married. “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’ Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:26-38).

These women did not have fortune or fame. They may not have even been the most beautiful, talented women in history. Yet they possessed the one thing that God wants from His children, a heart that is devoted to Him. He doesn’t care what we look like or what talents we have, though they could be useful for the building up of the church. He is interested in our hearts. He will pour out His blessings upon us and we will be known as His children if we follow after His heart. “A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, a hand through which Christ helps” (Anon). If you honor Christ in your heart, He will be honored by your life.

If we are willing to surrender our everything, the blessings will be found in our everyday life and the greatest reward will be the time spent in eternity worshipping at His feet, the enemy has been made His footstool and we will dine with Him at the Wedding Feast. “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’ And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:6-10).

We need to remember who we are in Christ. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people called out of darkness into His marvelous light. We have royal blood in us. We are princes and princesses. When we were saved, we became an heir to the Kingdom of God

What an honor! Rahab was honored by having her family spared in the fall of Jericho. Ruth was honored by being able to remarry. Mary was honored by being the mother of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. We are honored by being called God’s children! We have been adopted into His family. We will also have the honor of being at the Wedding Feast when He returns.

If we remember who we are, then wearing the clothes of righteousness will be our desire. We will be humbled and Christ will be exalted. We will become nothing and Christ our everything.
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Conclusion

As the bride of Christ, we need to have Him as the first and foremost in our lives. He is our husband and we are His bride. He is the head of the household and we are to submit to Him. This comes through faith, (Forsaking All I Trust Him). We need to let go of all idols, anything that can come between Him and us. “It is easy to die for Christ. It is hard to live for Him. Dying takes only an hour or two, but to live for Christ means to die daily. Only during the few years of this life are we given the privilege of serving each other and Christ… We shall have heaven forever, but only a short time for service here, and therefore; we must not waste the opportunity”(Sadhu Sundar Singh).

We need to take care of our family, the body of believers within our congregations. When we are faithful to them, we are able to reach outwards to our community bringing them into the fold. The body of Christ needs to grow. If we want the church to grow, we need to reflect Christ in everything that we do. “The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church… grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the praylessness in the Church. He is disturbed that the corporate prayer of the Church no longer pulls down the strongholds of the devil” (Leonard Ravenhill). Prayer is the key in the church to go where Jesus wills us to go. Prayer is communication between us and God. It is vital to the health of the church. There cannot be a relationship without communication. Studying God’s Word, gathering together in worship and testifying to His grace are also important to the growth of the church.

The church begins with each of us individually having Christ as our cornerstone. If we are not growing in our personal daily relationship, we can harbor a divisive spirit that can hinder the work of the Spirit within the corporate body. If we want God to bring restoration and revival to the church, we need to be in daily communion with Jesus and in tune with the Holy Spirit.

The devil would love to destroy us. We need to have our spiritual armour on ready to take our stand against the enemy’s schemes. In knowing who we are in Christ we have the authority to bind up the enemy. Jesus is Lord and will have the last say, sending the devil to spend eternity in hell. Jesus has won the victory. Let’s walk in it and live it! There is a reward for us in heaven if we are but faithful to Him. Keep marching forward in the fight and let us be found as Christ’s Virtuous Wife.