Thoughts on Women of the Bible
I think so often about the women mentioned in the Bible. I realize that they were just “human”. They struggled through life just like I do. Yet, there were things about them that were special enough to be included in God’s Word. That’s pretty incredible!
I think about the bitterness that Sara must have experienced when her body became old and unable to have children, and God’s promise had not been fulfilled.
Then there was Rahab. Can you imagine being accepted as one of God’s chosen ones…out of a life of heathenism and prostitution? And more than that, she was included in the line that brought us the Messiah!
How about Hannah, who was given a prophet/judge for a son because of her prayers and her vow to give her one great desire to God. Her prayer was so intense that the priest thought she was drunk!
And I absolutely love Ruth. She may perhaps be my favorite. I love that Boaz fell in love with her (okay…so that might be stretching it—but I like to think that’s what happened) because of her willingness to stay with her mother-in-law and serve God rather than remarry in her home town. I’ve moved around enough to know how frightening it is to live far away from everything familiar. She was so brave!
I’m in awe of Mary’s humility before God. I sometimes wonder if I would have the courage to face gossip and judgment to be pregnant with the Messiah. It would be terrifying and would hurt the instinctive pride that women have in being “perceived” as pure. And I love how she cherished things in her heart.
I often hear sermons on how we should be like Mary—who sat at Jesus’ feet. But I must admit, wouldn’t it be pretty special to cook for Jesus as Martha did? And it was Martha who showed great faith when Lazarus died.
But I would also like to have been Mary, Martha’s sister. She did not consider other “tasks” as important as just being near Jesus and hearing what He had to say. Jesus saw the beauty and love in Mary’s anointing his feet with oil and using her hair as a towel—He didn’t scorn her for wasting something that could’ve been sold for money to give the poor. And it was when Jesus’ saw Mary’s tears that He wept. Wow.
It was Timothy’s mother and grandmother who brought him up to love God and to be a faithful Christian.
Out of love, Tabitha made beautiful clothes for the poor widows. And the people loved her so much, that God actually raised her from the dead.
I know there are others as well. Sometimes I wonder, if God was still writing His Word (don’t get me wrong…I’m not suggesting that He is), would I be one of the faithful ones mentioned? Would my life have some small story of God’s work to be told to generations? And then I get excited because I realize that I have the choice to live a great life! I don’t have to be mediocre—but can be the kind of woman who makes clothes for the widows and pours perfume on Jesus’ feet (figuratively speaking) and gives God everything!
I think about the bitterness that Sara must have experienced when her body became old and unable to have children, and God’s promise had not been fulfilled.
Then there was Rahab. Can you imagine being accepted as one of God’s chosen ones…out of a life of heathenism and prostitution? And more than that, she was included in the line that brought us the Messiah!
How about Hannah, who was given a prophet/judge for a son because of her prayers and her vow to give her one great desire to God. Her prayer was so intense that the priest thought she was drunk!
And I absolutely love Ruth. She may perhaps be my favorite. I love that Boaz fell in love with her (okay…so that might be stretching it—but I like to think that’s what happened) because of her willingness to stay with her mother-in-law and serve God rather than remarry in her home town. I’ve moved around enough to know how frightening it is to live far away from everything familiar. She was so brave!
I’m in awe of Mary’s humility before God. I sometimes wonder if I would have the courage to face gossip and judgment to be pregnant with the Messiah. It would be terrifying and would hurt the instinctive pride that women have in being “perceived” as pure. And I love how she cherished things in her heart.
I often hear sermons on how we should be like Mary—who sat at Jesus’ feet. But I must admit, wouldn’t it be pretty special to cook for Jesus as Martha did? And it was Martha who showed great faith when Lazarus died.
But I would also like to have been Mary, Martha’s sister. She did not consider other “tasks” as important as just being near Jesus and hearing what He had to say. Jesus saw the beauty and love in Mary’s anointing his feet with oil and using her hair as a towel—He didn’t scorn her for wasting something that could’ve been sold for money to give the poor. And it was when Jesus’ saw Mary’s tears that He wept. Wow.
It was Timothy’s mother and grandmother who brought him up to love God and to be a faithful Christian.
Out of love, Tabitha made beautiful clothes for the poor widows. And the people loved her so much, that God actually raised her from the dead.
I know there are others as well. Sometimes I wonder, if God was still writing His Word (don’t get me wrong…I’m not suggesting that He is), would I be one of the faithful ones mentioned? Would my life have some small story of God’s work to be told to generations? And then I get excited because I realize that I have the choice to live a great life! I don’t have to be mediocre—but can be the kind of woman who makes clothes for the widows and pours perfume on Jesus’ feet (figuratively speaking) and gives God everything!
posted by Elizabeth | 2:19 PM
2 Comments:
I need that..thank you...!
It makes me thankful to be a woman
I think the goal of personality tests are to give direction and understanding to how others see you and how you interact with others. To have a woman in the Bible to reflect on and mentor towards (or against) builds character. It also creates a wholistic view for life, ie: we are all created in God's image, but we are also unique, what an amazing God we serve!
Post a Comment
<< Home