December 22, 2017
The Unlikely Women of Christmas
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11 NIV brackets added).
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 passages, they almost always listed men. Very rarely did a woman’s name make 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. We get a hint that the tide is turning for women when we read the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one. Shockingly, in addition to Mary, four women were listed in the genealogy of Christ!
And whom should God choose to be set apart, chosen, and honored in the genealogy of His Son? Not Mrs. Noah, who must have been an awesomely patient woman with all those animals to take care of. Not Mrs. Moses, who must have been incredibly flexible with all that moving around in the wilderness. Not Mrs. Abraham who must have become the poster woman for senior citizens everywhere when she had a child at ninety-years-old.
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, who had been a prostitute in Jericho. He chose Tamar, who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law. He chose Bathsheba, who had an affair with King David. And He chose Ruth, a nice girl from the cursed Moabite nation.
And that IS the story of Christmas. God shows us through these women’s lives that there is no place we can go that is so far away from His presence that He cannot forgive us, redeem us, and then use us for His glory. His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable.
I often hear women say they believe God can forgive them, but that they struggle with the idea He could ever use them. But the Bible shows us that He can and He will—if we let Him. Your past stumbling stones can become your God-ordained stepping-stones. Your mistakes and failures can become the very springboard from which your ministry is launched. I’m not talking about launching an international ministry, though it could be. I’m talking about your ministry to your neighbor, your co-worker, and your family.
Revelation 12:11 says this: “They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Each of the women in Matthew chapter one had a powerful story of how God plucked her from desperation, placed her on a firm foundation, and transformed her life into a portrait of admiration and inspiration.
Does that give you hope? It does me.
And that, dear sister, is what the Christmas story is all about.
Let’s Pray
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. Thank You for writing my name into the Christmas story.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
During 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 book of Ruth
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 chooses and uses?
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Originally published Friday, 22 December 2017.
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