Daily Devotion: Tuesday

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 95:1-11

Wisdom of the Day: Job 16:1-11

Scripture Reading: Luke 8:1-3

Let us see the power of the grace of God. We read that among those who followed our Lord in his journeyings, were "certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities."

We can well imagine that the difficulties these women had to face in becoming Christ's disciples, were large. They had their full share of the contempt and scorn which was poured on all followers of Jesus by the Scribes and Pharisees. The society at the time was also very hard on women.

But it was not a woman who sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. They were not women who forsook the Lord in the garden, and fled. It was not a woman, who denied Him three times in the high priest's house.

But they were women who wailed and lamented when Jesus was led forth to be crucified. They were women who stood to the last by the cross. And they were women who were first to visit the grave "where the Lord lay." Great indeed is the power of the grace of God through these women! Their great testimonies still speak 2,000 years later.

Let the recollection of these women encourage all women who read of them to take up the cross and to follow Christ. Let no sense of weakness, or fear of falling away keep them back from a decided profession of religion.

The mother of a family with limited means may tell us that she has no time for God. The wife of an ungodly husband may tell us that she dares not have faith. The young daughter of worldly parents may tell us that it is impossible for her to trust Christ. The worker in the midst of unconverted companions may tell us that in her place, a person cannot follow the Bible. But they are all wrong — quite wrong! With Christ nothing is impossible.

Let them think again, and change their minds. Let them begin boldly in the strength of Christ and trust Him for the consequences. The Lord Jesus never changes. He who enabled "many women" to serve Him faithfully while He was on earth — can enable women to serve Him, glorify Him, and be His disciples at the present day.

Prayer for the Day For Women: Dear Lord, help me to stand boldly and be a woman of faith.

Prayer for the Day For Men: Dear Lord, thank you for my wife, mother, sister or Godly woman in my church. Please help me to be a blessing to her.

Action Plan: Why did all the disciples run away after Jesus was crucified, yet the women stayed strong. While a woman is not permitted to pastor, what can you do to serve the Lord today?

This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858

and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.