WOMEN'S STRENGTH OF CHARACTER

The most beautiful women in the world are not those who parade in swimsuit and evening gowns before the judge and television cameras. The real finalists and winners are those women who have the inner glow of grace and compassion.

No amount of physical beauty can match the spiritual dignity or attractiveness of a mature women of God. She is a person of serenity because her trust and security is in the Lord. She is a person of dignity because her value and sence of significance is found in God. She will reflect the kind of inner beauty that goes more than call attention to herself. It a beauty that is far more important than anything merely skin deep.

"A women's strength of character is found in the person and example of Jesus Christ". He knew how to live under even the worst kind of authority and still make the best of it. Even though He was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus didn't insist on coming into the world in the role of a King.

The apostle Peter described Christ's ability to live under misused authority and then used His example to show what God can do in a women.

Do not let your beauty be that outward adorning of arranging the hair,

of wearing gold, or of putting on fine apparel; but let it be hidden person of a heart,

with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is very precious to God. For in this manner,

in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves,

being submissive to their own husbands (1 pet 3:3-5).

Our Lord's example does not mean that a women should endure any and all physical abuse from a man just because He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross without going for help. Jesus did not always put Himself at the mercy of the mobs and thier governors. He did not take pleasure in being beaten. He allowed Himself to be at thier mercy only when He knew His suffering would bring salvation to all men and women. At other times, Christ wisely took evasive action.

The result was that Jesus reflected a graciousness and strength that was rooted not in passive aggressiveness but in the strength of His relationship with the Father. It is the same strength of spirit that He can now produce in any women who chooses to find her security and example in Him.