The distinction between men and women have almost diminished, making life a lot more complicated than we would like to admit. We often blame advances in technology and our modern culture for the drastic change. However, we need to recognize that not all change is good.
Nevertheless, there is one change that is good - being transformed from the "old me" to the "new me" through the Holy Spirit. The "old me" has been shaped by culture, having no qualms about wearing the proverbial "pants". Being like a man was what I thought I needed to be to move ahead in the world. Unfortunately, the "pants" didn't quite fit and were very uncomfortable. My disposition towards men was one of disrespect and I often used callous caustic words to cut them to the core. When questioned about my words and actions, I would respond with "I don't care, this is how God made me." Not true!!! God did not make me to be rude and condescending, He made me to reflect His image. Nowhere in the Bible have I every seen God say "I don't care". What if He did? Can you imagine how much trouble we would be in?
Instead, God has shown us how to be in Colossians 3:12-13 - 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.
My heart was not always tender or merciful. I didn't want to show mercy because I didn't feel anyone who hurt me would deserve it. But, I didn't deserve mercy when Christ gave it to me, so I have learned that I shouldn't repay unkindness through bitterness, but rather show grace. I believed if I were kind, people would always take from me, but learned that I should not worry about this because my Heavenly Father has given me everything I need. My pride kept me from being humble, thinking humility would make me a doormat, yet Christ was crushed for me. Meekness meant that I took whatever meanness people gave me without complaint, but I didn't comprehend that it was the meek Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world who said the meek shall inherit the earth. I could never be patient in longsuffering as I never wanted to endure the pain people caused me, yet God longs for us to offer our lives to Him while we continually hurt His heart as we disobey Him. I didn't want to bear with someone who does wrong and I definitely didn't want to forgive them or else I felt they might take liberties with me. Yet, Jesus set us free so we could make allowances for others faults and forgive them as He has forgiven us.
So, now I do care. I care to reflect the image of God and His nurturing nature that He has given me as a woman. My words are to encourage, not to emasculate. They are to develop, not to demolish. I can give life to a man who society considers dead because I carry the Spirit of God. I was not created to be like a man, but to be the best part of him - woman.
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