CHRIST-CENTERED WOMEN

Two of my greatest Christian women heroes of the past century are Corrie ten Boom and Elisabeth Elliot. Both of these dear sisters clung to Jesus through immense suffering and were used mightily by the Lord for the sake of the kingdom. They were women of the Word, with their thought life anchored firmly in the Scriptures.

As we seek to grow deeper in the Hidden Life as a fellowship, we will be blessed if we look to those who have gone before us on the way of Faith, and who share their wisdom in how to put the Word of God to practice in our lives. 

For you, our precious sisters, there is at times a strong temptation to seek spiritual life through men. For the single sisters, putting your hope in the fulfillment of a godly man rescuing you from the purgatory of singleness to a life of joy. For the married sisters, it can be waiting (sometimes with increasing frustration) for your husbands to grow into men from whom you can have your spiritual needs met.

But this is deception, friends. Even a godly husband is never meant to usurp the place of your only Lord and Savior. Only from Jesus, and in seeking Him with your whole heart and delighting in His Word, do we derive life that is truly life. And so true life and joy are not something you need to wait for. It is not dependent on external circumstances. It is not dependent on men (both in the specific-gender and general humanity sense)—it is dependent on Jesus, knowing Him daily. 

I want to share with you some resources from these godly women for two reasons. First, the content of their teaching is biblical and excellent and you will be blessed by it! Secondly, however, I want to put on display for you women who are soaked in the Word of God, and the love, humility and wisdom that comes from knowing Jesus. I want to encourage you to have a vision for being kingdom-women, who are abandoned to Jesus Christ and seeking Him wholeheartedly. I want to dispel the notion that because men are given the place of leadership in the Church and family that means women are a kind of second-class Christians, who derive spiritual life from men, while men receive spiritual life directly from God.

A thousand times "no!" to that. You ladies are co-heirs with Christ. Through His blood and Spirit, you have direct access to Him. You are meant to be women full of God's love, wisdom, discernment, peace, joy and life. The path to this, however, is the same as it's always been—it is in seeking the Lord Jesus daily with all your heart.

So, I commend the following to you, and I am praying for a renewal among all the sisters in the fellowship. May Jesus alone be seen as the source of light and life and eternally-fulfilling love. 

Amen.