The ladies of W.O.W. (Women of Wisdom) have been spending several months dissecting this portion of Scripture (Proverbs 31)...the message each verse brings regarding God's pattern (and image) for our lives. By laying out this pattern upon the fabric of our lives, it is His plan for His image to come into focus as we fade further and further back of it all. It is the beauty of Jesus being seen in me.
As we came to verse 24, we see the scene being switched from the individual pattern to the corporate (His body coming together) and how they look as His body of believers...His mandate. Just as the word merchants has the meaning of activity...in the sense of going about to and fro, we are "merchants" for the Lord (another term would be disciple). We are to be going about to and fro...in and out...not just staying within the four walls of the church but rather being about our Father's kingdom business. In order to do that, the church itself should be a place that is providing the various "girdles" (girdles are a symbol of strength in His Word) of strength for us the "merchants."
A body of believers who have willingly laid themselves down as the material for the Lord to place His pattern on them and created His image....when coming together to fulfill the King's mandate...this will be a body that has all the characteristics of verse 25: strength and honor. It is a body of believers that will be effective in what they do and serve effectively. No wonder they are able to rejoice over the future for they are ready for it.
May we become all that God's Word lays out here individually and corporately. When we are in that position, there is no doubt we will someday hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
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