1 Tim. 2:15
“But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”
God has purposefully designed women for the amazing ability to carry and bring forth children. The bearing and rearing of children brings about the beautiful work of sanctification in our lives. It is through them that we are pruned and grow in Christ-likeness. The word “preserved” here means “sanctified”. It does not mean we will escape all pain and trials in the process. It means that through this process, Christ will make us fit for His presence.
Secondly, it reveals the truth that being a wife and mother is the role God designed for women, and walking in that role we will find our fulfillment! Interesting to note: it says “children” in the plural. Are we limiting God’s design by taking the number of children we have into our own hands? It does not say, “women will be preserved through the bearing of a child”. Just a thought.
Lastly, we must walk in faith, love and self-restraint. I think God knew what areas women would struggle in the most. These seem to be them.
Faith – we must be fully reliant upon God with childlike trust and dependence. We must trust that the pain and struggles of child rearing are working a perfect work within us. Faith is trusting in God even when we cannot see the future, we cannot see the results of our labors. Worry and anxiety are the opposite of faith.
Love – sacrificial love. Rising in the middle of the night for a teething baby, making meal after meal for a hungry family, and washing one more load of laundry…each task must be done in love. Perfect love casts out all fear. Isn’t that interesting? Love ties in with faith.
Self-restraint – in my book this is self-control. Whether it be food, appearance, emotions…each area of our lives must be managed with self-control.
What a beautiful work God has created women to do!