Femininity at its Finest
I always find it so fascinating how you can read a book, or a chapter, or even just one verse out of the bible that you've read a hundred times and totally discover something new that has never impacted you before. I love the way God can open your eyes to insight and meaning in new ways when you expected to just review what you thought or "knew" from before. Here is my case in point...
Recently I have found myself drawn to the story of Queen Esther, one of only two women in the Old Testament to receive a mention in the form of an entire book. I was origionally seeking out her story on the recommendation of John Piper in his book "Don't Waste Your Life" after he pointed out her famous line "if I perish, I perish." She approached the king univited, at the risk of being put to death, in order to plead on the behalf of the Jewish people because at the time, some bad men in upper levels of government had issued a edict to have the jews eliminated from the land because they wouldn't bow down to the govenment. Esther, as a jew herself, felt obligated to defend her people and risked her own life to save them. It worked. God worked. The Jewish people not only survived, but conquered as a result of her fearless leadership in spite of great risk.
This afternoon when I was reading this story, something new that truly touched me was how she got into the position to be named queen. Sure she was a natural beauty, but the bible specifically mentions that Esther spent and entire year making herself beautiful before appearing before the king for selection. If only I was so fortunate to get 12 full months to work on my appearance! The gym membership fees, makeup, and receipts for nice new clothes would be outrageous. Anyways, it was because of her beauty that Esther was made queen and able to save an entire nation. God truly used her feminine allure to work out His wonderful purpose.
God has probably not planned on saving the Jewish nation through me or the majority of women in the United States during this century, so it probably wouldn't be wise to spend a year working on physical appeal alone. However it might be wise to apply this little insight by spending a few prayers and a few days seeking out how God is using femininity to fullfill His greater purpose. The answer probably isn't in looks, since sex appeal is so shallow and manufactured during this generation, but probably something deeper that is unique to a woman's character and that ever changing, mysterious and allusive female heart.
Recently I have found myself drawn to the story of Queen Esther, one of only two women in the Old Testament to receive a mention in the form of an entire book. I was origionally seeking out her story on the recommendation of John Piper in his book "Don't Waste Your Life" after he pointed out her famous line "if I perish, I perish." She approached the king univited, at the risk of being put to death, in order to plead on the behalf of the Jewish people because at the time, some bad men in upper levels of government had issued a edict to have the jews eliminated from the land because they wouldn't bow down to the govenment. Esther, as a jew herself, felt obligated to defend her people and risked her own life to save them. It worked. God worked. The Jewish people not only survived, but conquered as a result of her fearless leadership in spite of great risk.
This afternoon when I was reading this story, something new that truly touched me was how she got into the position to be named queen. Sure she was a natural beauty, but the bible specifically mentions that Esther spent and entire year making herself beautiful before appearing before the king for selection. If only I was so fortunate to get 12 full months to work on my appearance! The gym membership fees, makeup, and receipts for nice new clothes would be outrageous. Anyways, it was because of her beauty that Esther was made queen and able to save an entire nation. God truly used her feminine allure to work out His wonderful purpose.
God has probably not planned on saving the Jewish nation through me or the majority of women in the United States during this century, so it probably wouldn't be wise to spend a year working on physical appeal alone. However it might be wise to apply this little insight by spending a few prayers and a few days seeking out how God is using femininity to fullfill His greater purpose. The answer probably isn't in looks, since sex appeal is so shallow and manufactured during this generation, but probably something deeper that is unique to a woman's character and that ever changing, mysterious and allusive female heart.
posted by carlymarie | 7:15 PM
1 Comments:
Ah, I see. That's why some women take so long to get ready for a date. =) It's Biblical.
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