57. The Redemption and Value of Our Small, Normal Stories
Episode 57
Great women in the Bible aren't usually the ones who become queens. They live normal lives, but chose when the opportunity presents itself to live for Jesus, proclaim the Lord, and make a difference to those around them. In the last three episodes we've looked at three women who used their normal lives to live big for the Lord. What can we learn from them to do the same ourselves?
Our problems and failures are places of redemption and more importantly proclamation!
Show Notes
‘Today’s episode concludes our Great Women in the Bible podcast series. Links to the three individual women are at the bottom of this post. Today’s episode is looking at the principles we can learn from these women.
The most important thing to learn:
Our problems and failures are places of redemption and more importantly proclamation!
Principles I Gleaned From These Great Women
1. Your age doesn’t matter in order to serve the Lord
a. 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
b. Psalm 71:18- So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
2. A horrible situation does not make you unusable
a. Genesis 50:19-20- But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
3. Being faithful where you are changes everything
a. Psalm 119:30- I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
b. 1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
4. Your past doesn’t condemn you or define you
a. Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
5. Your identity comes from Lord not your past or even your present
a. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18- So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
6. When heart tuned to Lord we will SEE Jesus
a. John 1:14- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What’s your story? What’s mine?
Our problems and failures are places of redemption and more importantly proclamation!
Our small stories are exactly where Jesus works. We don’t need to be known, to be used.
Do we ever really know which mark we make — that will matter the most?
We have a choice every moment, just like these ladies. Here’s a hint:
It’s probably going to show up when we’re least expecting it.
When we’re going about our daily lives, in the middle of the normal.
And then BANG! We see Jesus.
We hear His truth.
We read His truth.
The Lord opens our heart.
The Word enlightens our eyes.
It corrects us.
He gives us courage.
And then we have the choice.
What will we do with Jesus right here, right now?
Will we direct people toward truth? Maybe invite them to church. Tell them about someone to talk to or listen to. The slave girl wasn’t adequate, and we often aren't. Yet we can direct someone.
Will we be so attuned with Jesus that we recognized Him when He shows up?
Anna recognized Jesus in the arms of 2 peasants.
Will we see and praise Him. And then continue to speak of Him and what we’ve experienced with Him.
Will we walk faithfully, and without excuses, in the truth we have and seek fellowship with the people of God so that when deeper teaching comes our hearts will be ripe to understand?
Who Lydia was with set her up to hear about Jesus.
We need to be with other believers to in the way of truth.
Will we obey in the small?
o And then, like the five loaves and two fish He multiplies what we give for the multitude.
There are no small stories.
There are no unimportant decisions.
The small place of faithfulness changes the course of lives.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
As we see through these three great women is that every moment of our quiet stories holds the opportunity
to see Jesus and
to proclaim Him to a world that desperately needs Him.
to live in the light of the knowledge He gives.
We can’t change the whole world. But we can impact our own world.
Let’s live our days to His glory, always on the lookout for Him!
IT’S OUR SMALL STORIES ADDED TOGETHER THAT CHANGES PEOPLE’S LIVES FOR ETERNITY.
Let us commit our small, normal stories to Jesus.
Three Great Women in the Bible Podcast Episodes: