Tuesday, May 7, 2013

May 8, 2013

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27
 
The whole nation has been shocked by the unfolding story of the three young ladies held captive in a home in Cleveland. Much is yet to be revealed about how they were kidnapped and the horrible existence they have endured for over a decade.
 
If you didn't want to hold your children tight before, I'm sure you will now!
 
Proverb 31 is one of the Bible's greatest tributes to the extraordinary value of a godly woman. Such a woman is compared to precious jewels.
 
I want to focus on verse 27 which highlights an important and timely role a godly woman is to play. She is to stand watch over the safety and welfare of her family.
 
Usually you think of the man, the husband, the father as the protector of the home and the family. According to the Bible it is his role to provide financially and protect physically for his wife and their children. In a sense, he is to build a wall of security around his family.
 
Keeping with that word picture, the man builds the wall and the woman is to stand watch at the gate. She is to protect her children by standing guard over them spiritually and emotionally. She is to cover them like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings.
 
One commentator I studied suggested the word construction here paints a picture of building a hedge of thorns around the heart, mind and soul of her children. The way she stands watch would make it that difficult to do them harm.
 
Over the next three days I will be sharing ten ways a woman can build a hedge of thorns around the heart and soul and mind of her children.
 
But tonight, I want to pay tribute to my mother who did a really good job of building a spiritual hedge around my heart. It protected me well through the formative years of my life.
 
And I would like to honor the mothers in the FredWes congregation who are also doing an exceptional job of building a hedge around our children!
 
Standing watch is hard work! You must be constantly attentive as you prayerfully guard the gate to your children! Building a hedge of protection around the hearts and minds of your children is a fulltime effort! Know the Word so you know what to watch for! You must know the Word so you know what to stand guard against!
 
Such a woman is worthy of praise!