Certain Women

(Luke 8:1-3 KJV) And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

There seems to be a primary and a secondary lesson for us to learn in all scripture. In the case of our text, one tends to focus on the primary "miracle training" of Jesus for His disciples, while missing the secondary "commitment training" that is required for doing those miracles.

Over the years I have studied this scripture many times, but paid little attention to the women who were following Jesus. Perhaps that was because Luke himself did not seem to pay much attention to them either. As a matter of fact, he only mentioned three of them by name and then grouped the rest together and referred to them as "certain women."

It was only recently while in Budapest, Hungary that the Lord began to show me the secondary lesson in our text. This lesson had to do with the commitment of those who were found in a group called "certain women." For whatever reason Luke identified them by their past sins and problems rather than by their new life in God.

While in Budapest I had the privilege of meeting some of the "certain women" group that Luke spoke of in our text. These women left their homes back in the States many years ago and followed Jesus to the mission fields of Eastern Europe. As a matter of fact the name of their ministry is "Certain Women Ministry."

While having coffee with a couple of them, the Lord began giving me a refresher course on commitment. Like the women in our text, these women were not motivated by such things as fame, the spotlight, and the bigness of ministry or their names flashing on someone's marquee. As a matter of fact there was nothing about them that would call one's attention to them. There was no halo over anyone's head, no flashing fire coming out of their hands, no shaking of the building as a result of their prophetic words...nothing like that. They could have easily passed for one's neighbor, or sister, or wife or perhaps someone's mother-nonetheless they were unmistakably marked by their commitment to follow Jesus.

I am not sure why the Lord felt it necessary to take me to the other side of the world to give me this bit of "field training" on commitment, but I am taking it seriously. Perhaps it is because He is going to send me to places in the future that are going to require an even deeper level of faith and commitment on my part...in order to get the job done.

I also believe the Lord is speaking to many who read this Meditation to take a refresher course on commitment themselves. One needs to be a ready candidate if they are to be sent to the front lines of ministry with an expectation of victory.

Father,

Thank you for making me a perpetual learner. Even though I do not fit into the category of "certain women," I do desire to fit into the category of "certain men." Like the women in our text, I do not find it necessary to be known by my name, but only by my commitment in following you.

Amen