The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional: Daily Inspirations from God's Work in the Lives of Women
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The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional: Daily Inspirations from God's Work in the Lives of Women
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781496400277 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tyndale House Publishers |
| Publication date: | 08/22/2014 |
| Series: | One Year Book |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 384 |
| File size: | 21 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
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The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional
Daily Inspirations from God's Work in the Lives of Women
By Randy Petersen, Robin Shreeyes
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Copyright © 2014 Randy Petersen and Robin ShreevesAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4143-6934-1
CHAPTER 1
JANUARY 1
ON THE MOVE
Priscilla
ACTS 18; ROMANS 16:3; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19; 2 TIMOTHY 4:19
Moving through the New Testament, you can't get far without meeting Priscilla and her husband, Aquila. they're mentioned in Acts 18 and in three different epistles. Even more amazing, we find them in three different cities. They meet Paul in Corinth. In Ephesus, they counsel the great preacher Apollos. And when Paul writes his letter to the Romans, they're already there, hosting a church in their home.
It all proves tantalizing for a biblical detective, putting together the clues to assemble a dossier on this power couple. First, we note that they are always mentioned in tandem. Whatever they did, they did together. Then we consider their names. Priscilla ("ancient") is a noble Roman family name, and Aquila ("eagle") has ties to the Roman army. We could surmise that they had some family money, and that would explain how they had a house in Rome large enough for a church. It might also suggest that they owned the tent-making business that temporarily employed Paul. But that's all guesswork.
We know they were forced to leave Rome when Emperor claudius expelled the Jews in AD 49. They resettled in Corinth, and that's probably where they became christians. They went with Paul to Ephesus, but then it seems they went back to Rome for a time.
Travel was rather easy in the first-century Roman Empire. Roads built by the Roman army were often paved, and seas were patrolled by the Roman navy, discouraging pirates. And remember that Priscilla and Aquila made tents, something bought by travelers. It would make sense for them to travel wherever the market was good. But they seemed to be guided by a different economy: Where could they do the most good for God's Kingdom? Sometimes they needed to be at Paul's side, supporting his ministry, and sometimes they needed to nurture believers in other locations.
How many times in your life have you moved? The logistics of relocating can be stressful, but this biblical couple reminds us that God can use us wherever we go. You might think that a job or a school or a family commitment has brought you to your current home, but there's a higher purpose here. God has work for you to do.
Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you.
JEREMIAH 29:7
JANUARY 2
TEACHING THE TEACHER
Priscilla
ACTS 18; ROMANS 16:3; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19; 2 TIMOTHY 4:19
One of the curious details about Priscilla and Aquila is that she's usually named first. In a patriarchal culture, it was unusual for a woman to get top billing. Several theories have arisen to explain it. Was she better known among the Christians? Was he a later, reluctant convert? or does this reflect that her social standing—from a patrician family of Rome—exceeded his?
At the very least, it would indicate that Priscilla was just as involved in ministry as her husband was, and perhaps more so. And that reveals an interesting dynamic in Ephesus when this couple confronted the preacher Apollos.
He was a star, "an eloquent speaker who knew the scriptures well." Apollos came from Alexandria, a center of Jewish scholarship. "he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy" (Acts 18:24-25). We know he later went to Corinth, where a number of people preferred his preaching to Paul's. He had a gift, and he used it effectively.
But there was a problem. Apollos "knew only about John's baptism" (Acts 18:25). Apparently he preached fervently about repentance, social justice, and Jesus the prophesied Messiah. Perhaps he even preached about the atoning sacrifice of Christ. But the idea of the Holy spirit indwelling believers—this was new to him. When it came to the thought of resurrection power filling the lives of christians, well, he wasn't there yet.
Imagine the sheer gall it would take for Priscilla and Aquila to sidle up to this renowned preacher and say, "Nice sermon, but you're missing something." Yet that is what they did. Apparently their approach was winsome enough to be accepted. Many men in that era (and ours) would find it difficult to be corrected by a woman, but perhaps Priscilla and Aquila together found a gentle way to address the issue. Apollos listened to them, and he became an even more dynamic preacher.
Should you correct every theological error you encounter? Maybe not. But can you find winsome ways to engage others in conversation about what's true? When people are presenting a partial gospel, can you gently fill in what's missing? Paul challenges us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). Clearly Priscilla and Aquila got that message.
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.
ACTS 18:26
JANUARY 3
JESUS IN THE HOUSE
Priscilla
ACTS 18; ROMANS 16:3; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19; 2 TIMOTHY 4:19
In this age of megachurches, we often forget that the church started in people's houses. Oh, the day of Pentecost erupted with preaching to crowds, but soon afterward the converts were meeting in homes (see Acts 2:46). Throughout Acts and the Epistles, we find evidence of "house churches." there was the occasional lecture hall, but generally Christians met in rather small groups. Remember that Jesus said he would be present "where two or three gather in my name" (Matthew 18:20, NIV).
In major cities of the roman empire, many workers would live in tenements or shacks, but noble families would have more spacious homes. typically the entrance to such a house would lead to an open atrium, which would be ideal for group gatherings, holding thirty, fifty, even a hundred people. The early church had a mix of socioeconomic classes: slaves, workers, public officials, and patricians. those with bigger homes would host church meetings.
Priscilla and Aquila probably had money, whether inherited from their noble families or earned from their tent-making business. In any case, we find them hosting house churches in at least two locations—Rome and Ephesus—and maybe also in Corinth. Imagine how important this would have been for the early church—to have a home in a new community, a place to meet, a foothold.
Wealth is dangerous. Jesus often warned against trusting in money, but he also challenged us to be good stewards of what we have. This stewardship was modeled by Priscilla and Aquila, who used their substantial resources for the good of the church—supporting missionaries, hosting churches, and establishing good relationships all around.
What resources do you have, and how are you using them for God's purposes? Can you use your home for a prayer group? Could you open up a spare room for a traveling missionary? Can you use your business connections to create flexible earning opportunities for Christian ministers (as Priscilla and Aquila may have done for Paul)? Could you consider moving to a new location to start a church there (as Priscilla and Aquila did)?
Don't feel bad about what you have. Use it!
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.... Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.
ROMANS 16:3, 5
JANUARY 4
STAND BY ME
Phoebe
ROMANS 16:1-2
Paul had just completed his masterwork, the Epistle to the Romans. This was as clear a statement of his theology as he could offer, rich with references to the Jewish scriptures but showing a new way: grace rather than works, the life of God's Spirit rather than a law-addled death. And who would carry this precious cargo to the church in Rome?
Phoebe.
Paul needed someone he could trust, someone respectable enough to be well received in Rome, perhaps someone with the resources to make that journey safely. Phoebe fit the bill, according to the two verses about her that Paul added at the end of the letter.
She lived in Cenchrea, a harbor town just east of Corinth, where Paul was at the time, so the transfer of the document would be easy. Paul called her a "deacon" of the church there (Romans 16:1). This word can be a generic reference to any servant, but it took on an official meaning in the early church that it still has today. so it's possible that Paul was just saying she served that church, but he might have been using this as an official term, presenting the Romans with her résumé. In any case, she was "worthy of honor" (verse 2).
Another fascinating word describing Phoebe in Romans 16:2 is often translated "helper." In Greek, it's prostatis, literally "one who stands in front." This is the only time the word is used in the New Testament, but elsewhere it means "defender" or even "president." It's likely that Paul was referring to her as a supporter or patroness of his work. She "stood by him" during his ministry, or even "stood in front of him" to defend against criticism.
Where do you stand? Do you stand beside your church leaders, supporting their ministry—or do you take every opportunity to criticize? Do you stand by those people who are struggling in their faith, helping them to grow—or do you judge them? Do you stand in front of your family and friends, defending them from destructive forces—or do you sit idly by?
Maybe you could be a Phoebe.
Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.
ROMANS 16:2
JANUARY 5
CLOTHING TIME
Dorcas
ACTS 9:36-42
Has a funeral ever surprised you? Some people live lives of such quiet devotion that no one knows how special they are—until they're gone. Then everyone steps up to tell how helpful the dearly departed soul was. "Wow," you say, as one person after another gets up to talk, "I never knew."
The funeral of Dorcas was something like that. A Christian from the town of Joppa on Israel's coast, "she was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor" (Acts 9:36). When she died, her friends sent for the apostle Peter, who was ministering in a nearby town.
When he came to the viewing, it must have been a surreal sight. The poor widows of the town had flocked to the funeral, and they had brought clothing Dorcas had made for them, which they showed Peter. These were their testaments to the goodness of this woman.
Caring for widows and orphans is an important part of Jewish tradition. In that culture, losing a husband usually meant losing one's income, and so the generous people of the community had to pick up the slack. But Dorcas had done more than merely give alms. she had created items of clothing, very personal gifts, for these needy ones. She wasn't just throwing money at the problem; she was using her creativity to get involved with people. No wonder they showed up at her wake.
Wake turns out to be a good word for it, because Peter prayed for a miracle and got one. After sending the mourners out of the room, he said, "Get up, Tabitha," using her Hebrew name. She sat up. Then he took her out to greet those who were weeping over her death.
How can you use your creative gifts to help others? Of course, creativity means more than singing or painting. It might mean sewing seams or running meetings or tending children or managing budgets. God has dished out all sorts of abilities that we use to build our own homes and careers. But every gift he gives needs to be re-gifted. We receive his love and are to freely share it with others, especially those in need. Dorcas understood this, and as a result, she touched many lives.
The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.
ACTS 9:39
JANUARY 6
Epiphany
CREATIVITY
God created. What he created is so awesome that it actually speaks to us and reveals God's existence. "The heavens proclaim the glory of God," says the psalmist (19:1). Millions of stars in the sky, the roaring ocean, birds flying in perfect formation above our heads, even the lone dandelion in the middle of a green lawn all reveal something about God to those who take a moment to look and listen.
We, too, are creative because we are made in God's image. Creative expression has always been a way for God's people to share what they know about him. Words, written by Christians through the centuries and shared with others, have helped to fuel imaginations and bring a deeper understanding of who God is.
In the 1400s, when women were routinely treated as second-class citizens, Christine de Pizan used her poetry to explore the unique traits of women as created by God. Her writings brought light to an important societal issue: the status of women, which was less than God would have it be. Christine's writing influenced her generation.
Many of the familiar hymns of the church were written by women who wanted to express their faith through words and music. When Charlotte Elliott realized that she could come to God without having to fix a few things about herself first, she wrote "Just As I Am," a hymn that a hundred years later became a much-beloved altar call song at evangelistic meetings.
The immense power of love that conquers evil is a central theme of Madeleine L'Engle's, A Wrinkle in Time. This twentieth-century adolescent novel has been teaching youth and adults alike about the power of love for more than fifty years and continues to be at the top of YA reading lists—ensuring that its message will be spread for generations to come.
On January 6, many Christians celebrate the magi's visit to the Christ child, often with an explosion of creativity—skits and songs in Holland, practical jokes in England, music and creative cookery in many other traditions. So if you have a poem, song, story, dance, or tweet inside you, offer it up to the Lord. The Creator of your creativity will love it.
God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
GENESIS 1:27
JANUARY 7
MOTHERS KNOW BEST
Eunice and Lois
2 TIMOTHY 1:5
When they healed a lame man, Paul and Barnabas blew the circuits of the people of the backcountry town of Lystra. Who were these wonder workers? There was a local legend about two gods coming through in disguise, so when Paul and Barnabas displayed divine power, they were hailed as these gods. Paul had to be Hermes, the messenger, while Barnabas was assumed to be Zeus (see Acts 14:8-20).
When the apostles finally delivered their message about Jesus the Messiah, many received it in faith—including a Jewish woman named Eunice and her mother, Lois. When Paul came back to Lystra a few years later, he connected with Eunice's son, Timothy, who was probably a teenager at this point. Paul eventually took Timothy with him as an assistant (see Acts 16:1-5).
Timothy's father was a Gentile, and he doesn't seem to be a factor in this story. Was Eunice, then, a single mom? Maybe, or maybe her husband just wanted nothing to do with her religion. In either case, it would have been a challenge—eased, no doubt, by Lois's presence.
More than a decade later, Paul wrote two epistles to Timothy, by then a young pastor in Ephesus. The apostle commends Timothy's faith, which "first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice" (2 Timothy 1:5). Later Paul notes that Timothy had "been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood" (2 Timothy 3:15). But there was more than just Bible knowledge here. The next verses discuss how Scripture helps and equips us. Elsewhere in the same letter, Paul urges his protégé to be the kind of Christian who "correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV). It seems that Timothy wasn't just drilled in the facts of Scripture; he was bathed in its truth.
Many parents make Bible education an important part of their children's lives. That's great. But we can learn something deeper from Timothy's mother and grandmother. To begin with, they themselves were filled with the faith that they passed on to this boy. It was a reality in their lives, and it became a reality in Timothy's life. That made the Scriptures more than words on a page; they were a passageway to a powerful relationship with Christ.
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
2 TIMOTHY 3:15
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional by Randy Petersen, Robin Shreeyes. Copyright © 2014 Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves. Excerpted by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
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Table of Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION,WOMEN OF THE EARLIEST CHURCH,
WOMEN OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCH,
WOMEN OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED CHURCH,
WOMEN OF THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH,
WOMEN IN JESUS' MINISTRY,
WOMEN OF THE REFORMATION ERA,
WOMEN OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT ERA,
WOMEN OF THE MISSIONARY ERA,
LESSONS FROM HYMNS PENNED BY WOMEN,
WOMEN OF THE MODERN ERA (1900–1970),
WRITERS' CORNER,
ASSORTED LESSONS FROM WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
WOMEN WE'RE THANKFUL FOR,
WOMEN OF THE NATIVITY,
Notes,
A Note on the Research,