December 4, 2012
The Women of Christmas
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too 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 always listed the males. Nary a time do you find a woman’s name in the list. 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? Oh, 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 dessert 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 that God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He chose Rahab – a redeemed woman who had been a prostitute before she joined the children of God. He chose Tamar – who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law. He chose Bathsheba – who had an affair with King David and bore a son. And He chose Ruth – a woman from a cursed nation.
Oh friend, do you see it? I am so glad that these are the women that God chose. Through these women we see 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
After reading about them, answer these questions. What did God take them from? What did God take them to?
What does this tell you about the people that God can use? Click over to my blog page and tell me your answers. Let’s get real and honest.
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, see Sharon’s 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 Sharon’s book, Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas, Ideas from A-Z.
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