Women in the Work of God

Women are very important in the work of God. They cannot be church leaders (1 Timothy 2:12), but they can do many things. As the late R.G. Lee said, "... we gladly make declaration that some of the fairest and most fragrant flowers that grow in the garden of God and some of the sweetest and most luscious fruit that ripens in God's spiritual orchards are there because of woman's faith, woman's love, woman's prayer, woman's virtue, woman's tears, woman's devotion to Christ" (Payday Someday). Consider the role of women in Jesus' earthly life. The woman at the well brought her village out to hear Christ (John 4:28-30). Many women assisted Jesus during His earthly ministry (Lk. 8:2-3). Women opened their homes to Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). It was a woman who anointed Jesus for His burial prior to His death (Mat. 26:6-13). It was mostly women who stood at the cross (Mat. 27:55-56). Women observed Jesus' burial and came to anoint Him after He was dead (Lk. 23:55-56). It was women who first came to the empty tomb and first believed the resurrection (Mat. 28:1-6). It was women who reported the resurrection to the apostles (Mat. 28:7-8). Women played a large role in the early churches. They were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14). They were full of good works (Acts 9:36). They labored with Paul in the gospel (Phil. 4:3). They trained their children and grandchildren (2 Tim. 1:5). Older women taught the younger women (Titus 2:3-5). Women were messengers for the congregations (Rom. 16:1-2). They assisted their husbands in planting churches (Rom. 16:3-5; Acts 18:24-26). Women were the firstfruits of the gospel in places (Acts 16:14). Women showed hospitality to preachers (Acts 16:14-15).

(Friday Church News Notes, September 19, 2014,www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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