December 9, 2013
The Women of Christmas
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear” (Isaiah 59:1, NIV).
Friend to Friend
When the writers of the Old Testament penned the words to the long lists of lineages, the so-and-so begat so-and-so’s, they usually listened men’s names. It was very uncommon to see a woman’s name, even though there were a few.
But when we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God honoring women in a brand-new way. Even in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one we see four women in addition to Mary in the list! For that time in history, that was quite radical!
Now, if you were going to be part of this liberating radical movement to recognize women in the Holy Scriptures, whom would you pick? I’d probably include Mrs. Noah. She had to be a very patient, submissive wife to be able to put up with all those animals and Noah’s wild ideas.
Or perhaps I’d pick Mrs. Moses. Zipporah must have been a very godly woman to allow her husband to travel about in the desert for all those years. And besides, any woman who has a husband in leadership knows the sacrifices she must have made.
Or perhaps I’d pick Sarah. After all, she did bear a child when she was ninety.
But no. Those are not the women God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He chose Rahab, who had been a prostitute before she was embraced into the Israelites’ fold.
He chose Tamar, who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law.
He chose Bathsheba, who had an adulterous affair with King David.
And He chose Ruth, who was a woman from a cursed nation.
Oh friend, do you see it? I am so glad that these are the women God chose to be listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Through these women we see that there is no place so far from God that He cannot save us, redeem us, and ultimately use us for His glory.
His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable. That was true for those four women, and it is true for you and me. That, dear one, is the story of Christmas.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Redeemer, I am so thankful that You choose the weak things of the world to shame the wise. I am one of those “weak things” and I am constantly amazed that You chose me and use me for Your glory. Praise You, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Over the next few days, go back and read the stories of the women listed in Jesus’ genealogy and see what you can learn about their lives.
Rahab: Joshua 2
Tamar: Genesis 38:1-30
Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11
Ruth: The entire book.
What do their stories tell you about the people that God can use for His glory?
More from the Girlfriends
This is not your typical fluffy Christmas message—but it is why Jesus came: to save the lost, heal the sick, and use the redeemed. If you would like to learn more about God’s transforming power, check out my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Pain of your Past. And for more ways to keep Jesus the focus of the holiday season, see my book, Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas: Ideas from A- And just in time to start the New Year off right, my book Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe: A Daily Guide to Scripture-Based Prayer is now available. Click on the title to watch a video or read a sample chapter.
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