Proverbs 31: 28

Our final look at this Proverbs 31 woman ends with verse 28

"Her children rise up and bless her,

her husband also,

and he praises saying,

"many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all"".

I don't know about you, but these past few days studying the Proverbs 31 Woman has been challenging ,encouraging and a true blessing. This standard that God has displayed for us is definitely the Gold Standard. It is , however, one which we can look at and feel totally inadequate and incapable of attaining. And I think to feel that is accurate and OK. Over and over in Scripture we see pictures of men and women who rise up and set a standard that all of us hope to one day attain. Paul, Esther, Moses...are great ones. But most of us know, that God takes mere, fragile, imperfect men and women and makes something extraordinary through them. They are not the object of our desire, but instead it is their close walk to God Himself that we desire...and that is truly attainable. It is their obedience to follow Christ at all costs that makes them great...but it is also Christ working in them that provides all they need to follow. As we all know, we can not live this Christ-centered life part from Him. It is Him in us the does the "good work". So please , lets not feel defeated but be encouraged that with Christ all things are possible!
The goal is high but the means to it is Glorious!

I think what I most appreciate about this verse as we end our study is that it is a blessing...one which all of us ,as mothers, desire.

What does it mean "her children rise up and bless her"? She has given everything to her husband and family and what does she get back? They honor her, they hold her in the highest esteem. There are some, who right now, are in trying times with children...disciplining is not easy. Often, we get weary of the duty of being a Mom, but can I encourage all of us to know that at the end there is a great blessing. We may not see the fruits of our labor yet, but if we keep Christ the focus we WILL persevere and in the end we will see Godly fruit in our children. We must remember that our role as a Moms is to "train-up". Training takes diligence, consistency, gentleness at times and a firm hand at others. And it is training with an "upward" focus. That means a Bible-centered, Christ exalting focus. So many times we use contemporary experts as our guide, when we ought to take our guidance and instruction from God Himself.
John MacArthur states it this way :
"She is constantly before their eyes. Her tender guidance, her wise counsel, her loving discipline, her holy example, her HARD work...all of these things never cease to fill the memories of her children. They then, begin to fill the lives of their children and that's how righteousness is passed from generation to generation."

That's our legacy. That's our inheritance for our children. And it does take the LORD.
And one last thought...notice her husband praises her. That's what a life-long marriage produces. An appreciation for one another.
Can we commit our lives, our children, our marriages to God and His perfect ways? Can we find strength to live as the "Excellent Wife" as we look to Christ Himself to provide all we need? I believe we can.
Tomorrow...just some questions to ponder.