You Are A Virtuous Jewel of Excellence

What does it mean to be virtuous in a time when it is not vogue, when it’s not popular, or even considered contemporary for a young lady or woman to be called so? It’s okay to be smart. It’s okay to be trendy or have swag, even sexy—downright nasty in some circles—but virtuous? What is that? I’m not sure anyone in the world even cares much anymore. Who would have thought that King Lemuel’s mother’s words in the book of Proverbs would still ring loud and clear centuries later as she gives her son wisdom on what type of woman he should seek? Look at the renowned Proverbs 31 Woman: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (KJV, Prov. 31:10). This is a picture of a phenomenal woman who so graciously made the pages of the Word of God. It sounds like this type of woman was a rare find, even back then. After all, why does the writer allude to “Who can find her?” Obviously, she is not easily found. Does she even exist today? Where is she? Who is she? Does anyone know? Those of us who have made the transition and are now women in the body of Christ understand this woman. We know her. We know her secret. She is us. We have learned the value of allowing our virtue to shine forth. But what about our sisters who are still struggling to find themselves—our sisters who are still on the journey of discovering who they are in Christ? Sometimes it becomes a war within the soul, trying to discover and define who you are in this walk with Christ. Do you stay in the race, or do you throw in the towel when the world is screaming, “It is okay to do this,” or “It’s okay to be that” and old-time religion is hollering, “God will forgive you time after time after time for the same old sin?” Everybody is going one way, but in your heart of hearts you know you should go the other way. How does being a virtuous woman measure up in the world today, where the influences of who we are as women have crept in unaware and unseemly, even in the Body of Christ? There are many Christian women who still embrace what a magazine or television show defines as beautiful—from the closet to the bedroom in their lives. In these last days, how does the virtuous woman stand up and be noticed? Does she even know who she is? Does she even know that she is one of God’s most precious jewels? Well, that is the very assignment God has given me: to show you how to shine forth so that everyone will take notice. Like the old Isley Brothers song goes, “Who’s that lady, beautiful lady…” Ladies, I’m only dealing with this line of the song! The rest—well, you might know. When you know who you are and whose you are, you won’t have any problem shining like the jewel that you are. The Word of God tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (NKJV, Matt. 5:14). You were meant to shine for a purpose—not to be hidden so no one can see your glory. Jewels are meant to be seen. They are meant to enhance or complement whatever we are wearing or the atmosphere we are in. They are meant to be gazed upon, and they are meant to reflect light. In essence, in the Kingdom of God, as jewels, you and I are meant to enhance or complement God’s workmanship in the earth realm. We should be reflecting light—that is, God’s light. God is light. The scriptures declare, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (KJV, 1John 1:5). Light is defined as something that makes things visible or provides illumination from a specific source such as a candle or the sun. In the Greek, light is also defined as phoster, which implies light as being “a luminary or light giver.” In the bible it is often used figuratively to illustrate believers as shining in the spiritual darkness of the world. People should be able to look at us and see God’s glory and beauty emanating from us. They should be able to sense that something is different about us—to the point that they have to investigate if it is really real. That investigation should point them to Christ, with the truth of God’s Word evident in our lives. The Word of God instructs us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV, Matt 5:16). One of our quest or goals in life should be to make this scripture a reality in our lives. This is not an impossible task if you allow God to do His finest work in you. When you allow Him to do this, you will discover, in time, that your light will shine so bright others will have no problem seeing Christ in you.