Women, I have a question for you. It’s the same question people asked Jesus. Who are you? What makes you “you?”
If someone said, “Tell me about yourself,” what would you talk about? Your job? Your family? Your hobbies or friends or home?
When Jesus was asked this question, he talked about you.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30).
First, women, before anything—even “Mom” or “sister”—you are God’s children. Before you lead, before you influence, you follow, you learn, you’re saved. Jesus calls you sheep, which are basically wooly, white children who learn and follow.
What do you do as children?
- You listen to Jesus. Everyone knows that women are talented talkers who outpace men in words per day. All men except Jesus. He has so many things to tell you, meaningful things for you to discover meditating on his Word. Jesus says he loves you in so many ways that no other man will ever say.
- Jesus wants to tell you special things, just for you, because he knows you. Like a mother knows her children, like a shepherd knows his sheep, Jesus knows you. He knows all about your day, ladies, even before you tell your family or friends about it, and he understands what they don’t. Even what you don’t.
- Jesus gives you eternal life. Sometimes you take your eyes off this glorious future because you’re paying bills or wiping kids’ runny noses or cleaning up the house or just exhausted after a long day, but Jesus never loses sight of your eternal future, never gets distracted, never allows a detour that will send you off to a dead-end destination. Your destiny is part of your identity, so keep your eyes on it, see everything you do and everything you are in light of eternal life in heaven.
- You will never perish and nobody can snatch you from Jesus’ loving care. You will have long days, hard days, and bad-hair days. You will have days where you forget your online passwords or the kids fight or the baby doesn’t sleep or you just feel underappreciated and alone. These happen, but they don’t hurt the real you, they don’t cancel your identity as a child of God.
- Jesus says that his Father gave you to him. You are a gift. God the Father gives a present to his Son, and that present is you. He has purchased you. He wraps you in beauty that he selects and looks good on you: your Christian character, your unique personality, and even your looks. He then gives you to Jesus and says, “I know you’ll take care of her, even when she isn’t taking care of herself.”
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, bless women today. Bring them close to your heart, even as they care for, serve and show kindness in their beautiful ways. Thank you for the women of our world, our church and our families. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Slow down, use the PRAY acronym.
- Praise (tell God what you appreciate about a special woman in your life)
- Repent (tell God about your sins, perhaps not appreciating her)
- Ask (go ahead, think big, or focus on a small detail, God wants to hear it all)
- Yield (talk to God about the next step after you say “Amen,” how you want faith to lead the way, how you are willing to be part of his answer and see it develop for your good)