A Praise Worthy Woman
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Cenicienta
Cenicienta
As I prepared for Sophie’s Quinceañera, I happened upon the story of Adela or Adelita- which is similar to the story of Cinderella. Adela is born into a happy home, but is struck by tragedy where her mother dies suddenly. Her father, Francisco, eventually remarries Señora Micaela de la Fortuna. She has two daughters Valentina and Dulce, and they were close to Adelita’s age. Unfortunately, Adelita’s step mother and daughters were Que frios son—they’re cold ones, and they did not like her. Adelita is struck once again with tragedy when her father gets sicks and dies. She is left with her cold step-family and Esperanza. the nursemaid.
Her new step-family treated her horribly. They found her appalling and unworthy of their love. Her step-mother eventually kicks Esperanza out of the home because she is old, and now Adelita feels hopeless.
If the story stopped here, we would wonder if Adelita would ever be loved again. Would she every experience the happiness she had with her mother and father? Would she ever escape the cold attic? Would she every be worthy of someones praise?
We live in a world that is alot like the cold attic. It has people who are muy frios, and they treat you like Señora Micaela de la Fortuna. In order for you to be worthy of their praise and affection, you must be what they want you to be in their eyes. God has a better veras (truth) for you.
God says that a woman who is worthy of praise does three things with her life.
A woman worthy of praise does not allow charm to deceive her.
A woman worthy of praise does not allow charm to deceive her.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Charm, as the Bible defines it, is an attractiveness that interests or pleases people. Charm seeks to be popular by using their beauty or charisma. There is nothing wrong with being an attractive person, but Charm uses that attractiveness to take advantage of people us use them for self-interest.
The Bible says it is deceitful because this kind of charm is fickle. it does not last. Popularity is here today and gone tomorrow. A woman who is deceived by charm finds herself broken hearted and feeling hated.
At the root of charm is pride, pride in oneself. Pride seeks to be made much of, which is what drives your heart to be popular among your peers. And it is pride that eventually leads to your death.
So, consider Jesus for a moment. The bible describes Jesus as
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
and
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
By far, Jesus is the most beautiful being in all the earth. he truly deserves the praise of all mankind, to be popular. And yet the Bible also says
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
A woman worthy of praise does not allow her heart to be captured by pride and the praise of her peers. She is captivated by the beauty of Jesus, and His humility, so much so, her life shows the world Christ’s humility.
A woman worthy of praise does not allow beauty to define her.
A woman worthy of praise does not allow beauty to define her.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
In the year 2000, Newsweek published an article about body image. The article noted that you can find out how attractive you are by sending your picture to AmIHotOrNot.com. The Internet audience will rate you on a scale of 1 to 10. If this is too intimidating, you can simply choose to rate other people.
Twenty-one years later, our culture has not turned away from its vanity. Furthermore, our culture is going to tell you that your beauty defines you. You must be attractive in their eyes to be successful and worthy. The bible says this is a vain pursuit.
Th word used for vain in this text is the same word used to describe idols as worthless. Just as an idol that is made out of lifeless rock and wood by the hands of men is worthless, so is allowing beauty to define you. Why is it worthless?
First of all, beauty is fleeting. Beauty can be taken form you in a moment. i ma reminded of a woman who was a model for T.V. commercials and magazines. As she was departing a private jet, she accidently turned into a running propeller, ending her modeling career.
Furthermore, age comes for everyone. You will lose your youth to old age. Your physical beauty will go with it. We live in a broken world where everything breaks, even your beauty.
God defines beauty as something that displays itself on the inside more than the out side. When Samuel was with David’s father Jesse, waiting to anoint the next king of Israel, Samuel was sure the oldest son was God’s choice to be king. He was tall and handsome and looked like a man who could be the leader of their nation. But God said to Samuel
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
In the eyes of God, beauty, worthiness, is found in the heart. A woman worthy of praise has a heart that is beautiful in God’s sight. It is a heart that surrenders to God’s will and ways. It is a heart that desires what God desires. It is a heart defined not by the love of the world, but by God’s love for her and her neighbor. This kind of heart fears the Lord.
A woman of of praise fears the Lord above all.
A woman of of praise fears the Lord above all.
There are three ways a woman worthy of praise shows the world she fears the Lord.
Sophie, trust in the Lord with all of your heart.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Show the world that God is worthy of your faith. Through your trust, show the world that God is all-wise, all-knowing, and all-powerful, and that he can be trusted with your life, your death, and your eternal life.
Sophie, seek the Lord with all your heart.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Show the world that the best life you can live now is in God’s kingdom. Show the world that God will provide for your every need, and that worry and anxiety are not necessary. Be generous with your possession, showing hospitality to the poor and care for the sick.
Sophie, love the Lord with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus says that the greatest way to live in this earth is the love God with every once of your being and through His love, love your friends, family, acquaintances, and even your enemies that way you want to be loved.
You know deep inside you cannot do this on your own. Your heart is naturally inclined to charm others and define yourself by your own beauty. It is natural for all of us to reject God and make much of ourselves.
For the bible says
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
All of us reject the beauty and worth of God and exchange to for the praise of our peers and the lust of this world. And for doing that the Bible says
That the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a).
For rejecting God’s way, God has condemned those who have sinned to hell. It is appointed for man to die once and then face judgement. Hell is where sinners go who reject God. But the Bibel also says
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:23b)
God has made a way for sinners to be saved from His wrath. He sent his Son to die on a cross as a substitute in your place. And of you put you faith in Jesus as your Savior, you will b saved!
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Your heart, Sophie, is what needs to be changed! In order for your heart to be humble and not deceived by charm, for your heart to be beautiful in God’ sight, you must have Jesus reigning in your heart as your King.
In many ways, Jesus is your both your Esperanza and Javier. Jesus is your hope and your savior. Just as Javier came for Adelita, and saved her from her step-family and the cold attic, so Jesus came to save you. Just as Javier was deeply in love with Adelita and gave her a new life, so Jesus does for you. Just as Javier found Adelita worthy of his love and eager to praise her, so Jesus does for you. Just as adelita followed Javier and gave herself to him, so must you do to Jesus. A woman worthy of praise is a woman who praises her Savior, King Jesus.