Women are Important to Jesus
Even though we might feel second best in the world Jesus Christ was the first to include us
The sudden loss and disappearance of my mom over the past seven years has been a confusing time for me. But I met people in Jesus who have helped me begin to let her go and realize other people might be going through the same thing or worse.
I hear news about women and children who are treated less than important in other religions and cultures. And I look deep within myself and at Jesus as I contemplate all he did at the cross for mankind and for me to show me how worthy I am to him in Christ. (Romans 5:8; 8:35-39; Galatians 3:13-14)
The other day, I was speaking to a sister in Christ, Iris (I'll leave her last name out for privacy) about how sad it is that Afghanistan has fallen into the hands of the Taliban after Biden pulled out troops. And somehow the conversation came up that in the Muslim religion is so full of hate because they treat their women and children as less than dogs but men are exalted above all.
Moreover, over the past few weeks, I sit here in awe as I listen to confessions that people make to influencers on Instagram seeking guidance out of their problems. The world is a strange place. And some people hear those confessions as gossip or entertainment but I cry because some people really are in trouble and seeking help even if they seek help from people who aren't certified to help them.
I continue to realize I am not alone in my loss as I listen to another sister in Christ, Catherine, who shared her testimony with me this week. She went through hell and back so young. At 16 years old she fell into drugs, she was married to an infamous man who ripped off everyone in her neighborhood and was shot on account of him. She almost lost her child but God met her where she was, she entered a women's ministry to seek recovery in Christ and now she is at peace as a minister for Christ talking to other women about Jesus.
My own mother had her hardships but dad told me how strong she was. She was abused at a young age by a family member, always felt left out and misunderstood. But dad said God used my mom as a mother to the women of the streets. She prayed for them and blessed them with clothing, underwear and food. She would help support my father in ministry and the Holy Spirit would reveal things to her about secrets of other members that no one knew about and later those things came to light as the Holy Spirit told her— all while she was pregnant with me. My mom was a lioness in the Lord. Fearless and caring. Maybe that's why her disappearance impacted us so much.
As my father encourages me through this loss by reminding me about the life my mom lived for the Lord, my own father shared how unimpressed he is by how some people in the church say women can't preach when people really should know the context and the culture that is written behind those scriptures the bible.
But Jesus cared about women. My father who is a minister pointed out that in the time when Jesus was on the earth, Jews put women to the side but Jesus was the first to treat them as important. Have you heard about the woman at the well, the adulterous woman, and the woman who anointed Jesus's feet and wiped his feet with her hair? And Mary Magdalene was the first woman that Jesus told to tell the people He is resurrected three days later after his death on the cross because the men were hiding away scared.
Jesus loves women and children. He loves everyone and is here with us to go through the trials we might face until he returns if we accept him. (John 16:33, Romans 5:8, Romans 10: 9-10)
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(A) nor is there male and female,(B) for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs(A) to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Disclaimer: I am not a theologian or a pastor, I'm just a repentant sinner who has a relationship with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.