The cultural appeals towards women to live according to a set of standards, rules and expectations do not prevail against their primary identity in the Gospel. The world tells women their acceptance from others and approval by others is rooted in their appearance before others – the appearance of physical perfection, the appearance of a perfect marriage, the appearance of happy and healthy kids, the appearance of a well kept home and the appearance of a life lived in balance with no stress, no anxiety, no struggle and absolutely no weakness.

While appearances can be deceiving, even more deceiving is the lie that a woman’s identity is rooted in her capacity to maintain these appearances to the standards that Hollywood, magazines at the check-out counter and the myriad of Christian books on parenting and marriage project on them. With an endless assault of cultural propaganda constantly bombarding women on all fronts – in their roles as moms, wives, friends, employees, bosses and homemakers – many women put their heads down at night feeling more defeated than victorious, and more lost in who they are than found.

The Gospel radically reorients all of this. It says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). In other words, when you were most unlovely God was most loving. Your appearances do not earn your approval and acceptance from God. Jesus does. Even when you are at your worst physically, when your home is a wreck, your marriage is dry, your kids are out of control and you are stressed to the brim, Jesus loves you, accepts you and fully approves of you.

The Gospel also says “…since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). In other words, the work you do does not earn you anything from God. Everything necessary to be made right with God was earned for you by Jesus. This does not give you a license for irresponsibility with yourself, your home, your marriage or your kids. It simply substantiates the work you do in those areas. It says you do not work to be accepted by God, but rather you work because you are accepted by God. Your ability to keep everything in perfect working order has no bearing whatsoever on God’s approval of you. He is no more pleased with you when your house is clean than He is with you when your house is a disaster zone.

Below are four crucial areas in a woman’s life into which the Gospel specifically and definitively speaks with authority:

In light of the Gospel, you are freely and fully accepted by God. Your acceptance is not defined by who does or does not like you, but rather by the One who has extravagantly loved you. In the Gospel you are freed from the need to be defined by the approval and acceptance from anyone or anything other than Jesus. You are deeply and fully accepted and approved by Jesus. At the end of the day, His acceptance is enough.

In light of the Gospel, your personal sense of security is not defined by relationships, events or circumstances that are out of your control. Rather, your security is defined by the One who has given you a great hope that at all times He is working for your good and on your behalf. In this hope you can greatly rejoice, because His hope does not disappoint. You are protected and kept by His power. In this you have great security.

In light of the Gospel, the beauty of your image is not defined by the standards or expectations of this world but by what God calls beautiful and finds great delight in. Your identity is not determined then by your own physical appearance but by the radiance and brilliance of the beauty of Jesus within you. Your image is glorious because He is glorious.

In light of the Gospel, your value is not determined by your ability to flawlessly manage all of the different responsibilities you have with beauty and grace, but by the price Jesus paid for your redemption with his life. As one bought with a great price your identity now is not determined by your work and what you produce, it’s determined by the work of Jesus completed for you and what He has produced in you. He has determined your worth in the price He paid. You are invaluable.

CONCLUSION: The only power capable of defeating the onslaught of lies this world tells women is the power of the Gospel. Believe it deeply and preach it to yourself daily.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 1:57 pm and is filed under Pastor's Blog.