Who are you truly today? I often refer to myself as the handmaiden of God. A handmaiden is a servant one who works diligently to do the service of the one she is assigned to serve. She is faithful to her charge and does not neglect her duties. She is passionate about whom she serves. Her desire is to please her Lord. A friend reminded me on yesterday of this very important word and it comes from:
I Corinthians 7:34 (NIV) and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband.
A married woman's responsibility and desires are focus entirely different than a woman who is single and/or a virgin. A married woman is focused on her husband and how she may please him and serve him, but a single woman's focus should be to her Lord in how she may please and serve him. Many of us are confused about who we are and where we are in life. Some of the confusion comes from having been married but thrust back into being single which has left some of us confused about our position and where we fit. It was never God's desire that the saints would divorce, but this is the age in which we live so we must deal with what we have. Well, then there are the unmarried women who have never been married but because some have cohabited, not remained virgins they too have a compromised mentality of positioning spiritually.
Understanding how to get back to purity in our minds is a process. It obviously cannot be changed were our bodies are concerned that's why it is more difficult once you are exposed to being in a physical relationship to go back to being in a spiritual relationship only. However, it is not impossible. Your body can adjust over time when you put it under the word, continue in prayer and fasting, and most importantly love God enough to commit to him fully. When you are single your body belongs to God. Giving yourself to someone who you are not married to violates your commitment and relationship with the Lord. I've had men tell me, "I could never marry somebody I haven't been with". That's why they will tell you this to make you violate your commitment. The realness is they don't plan on marry you anyway. If the prerequisite is playing married, he already has the wrong idea about what real commitment and relationship is from a biblical perspective. He does not want you to be covered because he is so willingly ready to uncover in the Lord's eyes. This is much like Adam and Eve walking through the garden trying to cover their sin because their disobedience separated them from the relationship they once had with God.
When you violate your body, you are violating the Lord's body because your body belongs to God. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; (I Cor 6:19). You are not to be controlled by your sinful nature, but by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:9). So when you give your body away outside the word of God or in violation of God's word, you commit spiritual adultery because your body is in marriage relationship with God. God has not given you away in marriage so you have stepped outside of that marriage. It is much the same as having a natural relationship and being with another man when you are married to someone else. You make the same vow and commitment to God that you are making with a man. As his handmaiden you are committed to keeping his word, walking in his word, and serving him.
So I ask you today, "Are you God's handmaiden?" As his handmaiden and a single woman your desire should be to please him, serve him, and do unto him more than a married woman could ever do for her husband. When you are single you have the time to give yourself to prayer, fasting, scripture without distraction. You have the time to put your hands to work to be about kingdom building. You have the time to do all you can to please your Lord. Where are the handmaidens of the Lord who toil in prayer all night consecrating and praying for the sick? Where are the handmaidens of the Lord when the Lord has need of you working in the vineyards? Are you somewhere on somebody’s lap or somewhere laying before the Lord waiting for instruction?
Purity in your mind and heart can only be found in God's presence and in God's word. Hear ye the word of the Lord today! Strive to be a true handmaiden of God. Strive to be a vessel fit and meek for the Master's use. Have a blessed and prosperous weekend beloveds and keep your oil lamp trimmed and burning!
No comments:
Post a Comment