Dear Women! (Part Three)

From the heart of Dr. R. L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Expositor & Teacher. Biblical womanhood is the distinguishing character of a woman as defined by the Bible. An attractive appearance quickly loses its appeal to those closest to a woman of poor character. But a woman who walks in the light as God is in the light radiates the glory of God to everyone she meets. A woman who models godly, biblical womanhood has a gentle and quiet spirit, but she can also lead a corporation, head her own business, or discover medical cures. In fact, as she keeps in step with the Holy Spirit and allows Him to influence and control her, God blesses her natural gifting to accomplish even more than she could if she tried to succeed in her own way! Attractive behavior involves an emphasis on the inner person over outward appearance. The point of 1 Peter 3:3‑4 is not that a woman should neglect her outward appearance, but rather that her emphasis should be on the “hidden (inner) person of the heart.” That person has the “imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” Peter’s point is that the emphasis should be on attractive character qualities, which are imperishable, not on elaborate outward attractiveness, which necessarily fades with age. Inner beauty is attractive even to a godless husband (1 Peter 3:1-2), and it enhances a woman’s outward appearance. A young officer who was blinded during a war met and later married one of the nurses who took care of him in the hospital. One day he overheard someone say, “It was lucky for her that he was blind, since no one who could see would marry such a homely woman.” He walked toward the voice and said, “I overheard what you said, and I thank God from the depths of my heart for blindness of eyes that might have kept me from seeing the marvelous worth of the soul of this woman who is my wife. She is the most noble character I have ever known; if the conformation of her features is such that it might have masked her inward beauty to my soul then I am the great gainer by having lost my sight.” (Donald Barnhouse, Let Me Illustrate [Revell], p. 156.) Outer beauty fades, but inner beauty grows stronger over time. Be encouraged!