Daily Devotion

 

 

 

The synagogues that were once open to Jesus are now closed to Him so Jesus is on the road. This passage lists a little group of women who serve Him out of their resources. The fact that the devoted followers of Jesus helped Him in this way was in direct line with ordinary practice. With these women, we cannot fail to see how mixed a company they were.   There was Mary Magdalene, that is Mary from the town of Magdala, out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils. Her past was dark and terrible. There was Joanna. She was the wife of Chuza, the one who looked after the King's private property and financial interests. It is an amazing thing to find Mary Magdalene, with a dark past, and Joanna, the lady of the court, in the same company.

 

It is one of the supreme achievements of Jesus that he can enable the most diverse people to live together without in the least losing their own personalities or qualities.G.K. Chesterton writes about this text which says that the lion will lie down with the lamb. "The real problem is---Can a lion lie down with the lamb and still retain his royal ferocity. That is the problem the Church attempted; that is the miracle she achieved."There is nothing that the Church needs more than to learn how to yoke in common harness the diverse temperaments and qualities of different people. In Christ Jesus, it can be done and has been done.

 

In this list of women, we have a group whose help was practical. Being women, they would not be allowed to preach, but they gave the gifts they had. It is not always the person in the foreground who is doing the greatest work. There is no gift that cannot be used in the service of Jesus. Many of His greatest servants are in the background, unseen but essential to His cause.

 

Life Application:Have you found your place in the Master's service? There is room for everyone. You may not feel as equipped as others, but you, too, are to be gathering in a harvest that needs to be reaped!

 

Praise/Prayer:Dear Father, how thankful I am that in Your kingdom there is room for everyone. You accept volunteers who are willing to do what You will ask. Now is the time to reap the harvest. Amen!