Proverbs 31 - The Man's Preparation Part 2
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| "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; |
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| ...ensure justice for those being crushed. |
Last Preparations:
Here we have it; the last of the preparations before he is ready to meet his bride, and perhaps the most difficult because these instructions require true relationship with Jesus. You cannot spend your life speaking up for those who don't have a voice, making sure the crushed receive justice, or genuinely invest in the poor and helpless until you know the One from who you draw strength. Stuff is about to get real. This is the point of inception for real change as a man decides whether he is willingly ready to lace up his boots, dig his work gloves out of the shed, and prepare for some serious work.
Selfless:
God knows our fleshly nature is to basically be selfish "give me, give me, give me" little life suckers. But he asks us to rise above the flesh and live in the spirit. When we do, we find the strength to serve people in a way we never knew possible. There is nothing more attractive to a potential Proverbs 31 wife than a humble man laying aside selfishness to bless the children, widows, orphans, mentally challenged, elderly, or any sect of our population needing an advocate. There are countless ways this character quality could manifest itself in a man's life. It may be what he does as a vocation, the types of committees in which he chooses to serve, the ministries he's affiliated with, or simply the way he lives his life. Either way, he is choosing to make the marginalized of society a priority. And if he's willing to do that outside the home just imagine the impact he will have on his wife and children inside the home.
God knows our fleshly nature is to basically be selfish "give me, give me, give me" little life suckers. But he asks us to rise above the flesh and live in the spirit. When we do, we find the strength to serve people in a way we never knew possible. There is nothing more attractive to a potential Proverbs 31 wife than a humble man laying aside selfishness to bless the children, widows, orphans, mentally challenged, elderly, or any sect of our population needing an advocate. There are countless ways this character quality could manifest itself in a man's life. It may be what he does as a vocation, the types of committees in which he chooses to serve, the ministries he's affiliated with, or simply the way he lives his life. Either way, he is choosing to make the marginalized of society a priority. And if he's willing to do that outside the home just imagine the impact he will have on his wife and children inside the home.
Notice that he isn't just serving God's church of believers. Although that is extremely important to the Lord, it is clear in these verses that outreach is a massive part of how this man is spending his time. He is positioning himself in such a way that the people he is serving have authentic relationship with him, they trust him, and they are reassured that he will see them through to the very end.
Who Are the Crushed?
The last people group this man, King Lemuel, is told to reach is the crushed. In studying these verses I stopped on this word time and time again and asked God, "Who are the crushed?" These words caught my attention in church today, just in time for this devotion, as we sang, "I am pressed, but not crushed; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. I am blessed beyond the curse, for His promise will endure. His joy is gonna be my strength." As I began to reflect on that I could see that the crushed are those that do not yet know Jesus as their friend, Savior, or Lord. Christians are pressed, persecuted, struck down, and blessed by His promise. The non-believer is crushed, abandoned, destroyed, and cursed with no promise to cling to, no joy to be their strength. No doubt this man needs to be a valuable presence in his church body, but God wants him to reach into the lives of so many others as he daily walks with Him.
The last people group this man, King Lemuel, is told to reach is the crushed. In studying these verses I stopped on this word time and time again and asked God, "Who are the crushed?" These words caught my attention in church today, just in time for this devotion, as we sang, "I am pressed, but not crushed; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. I am blessed beyond the curse, for His promise will endure. His joy is gonna be my strength." As I began to reflect on that I could see that the crushed are those that do not yet know Jesus as their friend, Savior, or Lord. Christians are pressed, persecuted, struck down, and blessed by His promise. The non-believer is crushed, abandoned, destroyed, and cursed with no promise to cling to, no joy to be their strength. No doubt this man needs to be a valuable presence in his church body, but God wants him to reach into the lives of so many others as he daily walks with Him.
Godfidence:
Speaking up for the poor takes a turning against the flow of society and a spirit-given Godfidence (God confidence). If men of God don't speak up for the poor and helpless, who will? It is by their example and leadership that their families, friends, communities, counties, and even nations begin to change. Men of God possess more power than many of them realize. As they rise up to take their rightful places as sons of the Most High they become the influential catalysts in turning people's hearts and eyes to the only One who can save them, Jesus Christ. I guess it's a no-brainer why Christian men are intensely under attack from the enemy. Women, pray for your husbands to hear the calling of God on their lives so strongly, intimately, and powerfully that they will stop at nothing to see it through at any cost.
**This devotion is dedicated to my husband, Jebron. You epitomize the man spoken of in these two verses. Thank you for teaching me how to better love and serve people by your faithful example.**
Speaking up for the poor takes a turning against the flow of society and a spirit-given Godfidence (God confidence). If men of God don't speak up for the poor and helpless, who will? It is by their example and leadership that their families, friends, communities, counties, and even nations begin to change. Men of God possess more power than many of them realize. As they rise up to take their rightful places as sons of the Most High they become the influential catalysts in turning people's hearts and eyes to the only One who can save them, Jesus Christ. I guess it's a no-brainer why Christian men are intensely under attack from the enemy. Women, pray for your husbands to hear the calling of God on their lives so strongly, intimately, and powerfully that they will stop at nothing to see it through at any cost.
**This devotion is dedicated to my husband, Jebron. You epitomize the man spoken of in these two verses. Thank you for teaching me how to better love and serve people by your faithful example.**
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