“Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases.” (Luke 8:1-2)
One day I was reading through the Gospel of Luke and got to Chapter 8, subtitled “Women Who Followed Jesus”. Sounds like nothing except for some reason it just really jumped out at me how the “group of women” was listed separate from the disciples. I was so amazed by this, why were they listed separate? It immediately challenged me to look at Jesus’ ministry with women, and most of all how we we’re different! And oh, what a treasure I found! I was so encouraged by how women in the bible “followed Jesus”. Some of these women became great Godly examples to me, their immediate response to salvation, or their faithfulness and loyalty to our LORD. I even looked back to Old Testament women, learned from them, was encouraged and challenged. That’s why these women are heroes of the Bible in my eyes-their example has taught me so much about how to pursue my relationship with the LORD.
Mary (Luke 1:26-55)-She rejoiced in the LORD for her gift, even though she knew people would not understand, slander/shame her, she kept her eyes on the LORD and not what others might think or say.
-From her I learned THANKSGIVING and PRAISE even when we don’t understand our circumstances.
Anna (Luke 2:36-38)-She worshiped with fasting and prayer night and day. She recognized Jesus as Messiah when He was just a baby and began praising God for Him and telling others about Him.
-From her I learned DEVOTION.
Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2)-he healed her from 7 demons, the rest of her life she followed him. She was the first one to see Him after His resurrection!
-From her I learned FAITHFULNESS.
Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36-39)-she anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive ointment, and washed them with her tears.
-From her I learned REVERANCE and WORSHIP-it may cost us much to worship, but it is worth it.
Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42)-she chose to sit at Jesus feet and listen to him teach, to rest, to abide, rather than fill her days with busyness.
-From her I learned to ABIDE, to rest in Him, to take time to listen and fellowship with the LORD.
The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-2)-she continued asking the judge for justice and it was granted.
-From her I learned PERSISTANCE in prayer.
The Widow and Her Coins (Luke 21:1-4)-she offered little, but the sacrifice was great. She trusted God would provide.
-From her I learned FAITH and TRUST
Ruth (Ruth 2:2-3)-she worked hard and gleaned each day
-From her I learned the value of HARD WORK-study, read, glean.
The Woman at the Well (John 4:28-29)-she was scandalous, but once she realized who the Messiah was, she left everything and ran to tell people about Him.
-From her I learned EVANGELISM-you don’t have to have everything figured out before you can tell people about our Savior.
These women have been such an encouragement to me. They were not philosophers or leaders of nations (in fact some of them didn’t even have their names mentioned). They were simple, they were simple in faith and faithfulness, yet their stories are so profound they’re recorded in scripture. They are my examples, my heroes. I pray that we would learn from these women, respond to the LORD the way they did, with loyalty, devotion, reverence, faithfulness, and love.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Scripture 4
Our Dwelling Place
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:1-2 ESV)
What a great verse to remember HE is the place we dwell (take up residence, reside). I went to look up the word dwell on dictionary.com (oh how I wish I was more spiritual to say I was looking up it's original meaning in Greek or something, but no, just plain ol' dictionary) and I found this at the bottom of the page:
Dwell
God "dwells in light" (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph. 3:17-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in believers (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14). We are exhorted to "let the word of God dwell in us richly" (Col. 3:16; Ps. 119:11). Dwell deep occurs only in Jer. 49:8, and refers to the custom of seeking refuge from impending danger, in retiring to the recesses of rocks and caverns, or to remote places in the desert.
Dwell in Him . . .
"There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy."(Deuteronomy 33:26-27 ESV)
"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.” (Psalm 43:3-4 NASB)
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:1-2 ESV)
What a great verse to remember HE is the place we dwell (take up residence, reside). I went to look up the word dwell on dictionary.com (oh how I wish I was more spiritual to say I was looking up it's original meaning in Greek or something, but no, just plain ol' dictionary) and I found this at the bottom of the page:
Dwell
God "dwells in light" (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph. 3:17-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in believers (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14). We are exhorted to "let the word of God dwell in us richly" (Col. 3:16; Ps. 119:11). Dwell deep occurs only in Jer. 49:8, and refers to the custom of seeking refuge from impending danger, in retiring to the recesses of rocks and caverns, or to remote places in the desert.
Dwell in Him . . .
"There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy."(Deuteronomy 33:26-27 ESV)
"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.” (Psalm 43:3-4 NASB)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Scripture 3
Our Hiding Place
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” Psalm 32:7
I thought that it would be neat each time we memorize scripture, to memorize something that would exalt the LORD-remind us of his attributes and characteristics. Who HE is, who we are and are not. Last month, we memorized scripture that shows us how the LORD our God is the Creator and Sustainer (also Rescuer if you went through verses 6 and 7).
This week . . . Remember HE is our Hiding Place.
A hiding place doesn’t necessarily mean a place of victory, or that you won’t have to go back out to face your enemies. It doesn’t mean we are lifted entirely out of the situation or that in there is immediate resolution. It means we can retreat, withdraw, hide in His comfort. He will take us by the hand and keep us, guide us, shelter us.
A hiding place, a place of retreat. When we are experiencing trials, do we go to the LORD? Do we retreat to our most safe “hiding place”? Do we withdraw and run to the LORD? Do we long to dwell in His presence, to rest in the shelter of His wings? Or, are we out there again, pulling ourselves up by our boot straps, trying to do things on our own. Solve our own problems, be our own comforter and helper.
Rest in Him, cease striving, be still, and let the Comforter and Helper do his job, guide us, protect us, shelter us . . .
Hide in HIM.
“I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah” Psalm 61:4
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” Psalm 32:7
I thought that it would be neat each time we memorize scripture, to memorize something that would exalt the LORD-remind us of his attributes and characteristics. Who HE is, who we are and are not. Last month, we memorized scripture that shows us how the LORD our God is the Creator and Sustainer (also Rescuer if you went through verses 6 and 7).
This week . . . Remember HE is our Hiding Place.
A hiding place doesn’t necessarily mean a place of victory, or that you won’t have to go back out to face your enemies. It doesn’t mean we are lifted entirely out of the situation or that in there is immediate resolution. It means we can retreat, withdraw, hide in His comfort. He will take us by the hand and keep us, guide us, shelter us.
A hiding place, a place of retreat. When we are experiencing trials, do we go to the LORD? Do we retreat to our most safe “hiding place”? Do we withdraw and run to the LORD? Do we long to dwell in His presence, to rest in the shelter of His wings? Or, are we out there again, pulling ourselves up by our boot straps, trying to do things on our own. Solve our own problems, be our own comforter and helper.
Rest in Him, cease striving, be still, and let the Comforter and Helper do his job, guide us, protect us, shelter us . . .
Hide in HIM.
“I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah” Psalm 61:4
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