6 inspiring lessons of service from women in the bible

Written by Amy L. Sullivan

SERVE Editor Word lover. Book devourer. Music addict. Amy is a Northern girl who found herself living in the South. She drinks sweet tea, turns her nose up at okra, and attempts to tell her daughters "yella" isn't a color.

June 20, 2013

rahab, Jericho, women in the bible

Here are a few of my favorite lessons on service from a few of my favorite ladies:

1. Servants go with their gut.

Pharaoh’s daughter rescues Moses from the Nile River.

She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one  of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Exodus 2:6

2. Servants take chances.

Rahab hides Hebrew spies.

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. Joshua 2:4

3. Servants embrace the talents they have.

Dorcas makes clothes for the widows.

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Acts 10:39

4. Servants right wrongs.

Abigail begs forgiveness for the way her wicked husband, Nabal, mistreated David.

Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master because he fights the Lord’s battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. 1 Samuel 25:28

5. Servants keep promises, even when it hurts.

Hannah takes Samuel to live with Eli and presents him to the Lord.

…She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” 1 Samuel 1:21.

6. Servants pray unceasingly.

Anna continuously worships God.

She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37(b)

 

Your turn. Who are your favorite women in the Bible? What do you love about them? What do they teach you?

3 Comments

  1. SimplyDarlene

    Oh, what a hard question. There are many, many answers, but for now I’ll pick one that you’ve already selected:

    Abigail.

    Outstanding humility.

    She does the best she can with what she has within her grasp.

    She overcomes the evil done within her midst with kindness & respect.

    (thank you for this piece, miss Amy)

    blessings.

    Reply
  2. Amy L. Sullivan

    Darlene,
    Abigail, abigail! Now why didn’t she make my list? Good one.

    Reply
  3. Ashley Jones

    Amy,
    I loved this post. I have been searching blogs for articles about women in the bible 🙂 and found this post rather delightful.

    For me, I would say “Mary” is one of my favorite women in the bible. Mary received God’s plan for her with humility and grace. She said “I am the Lord’s servant; may it be done to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:38).

    I think when God comes to us with a deep and sweet revelation, and we have a choice. We have a choice to have a mind set on the spirit, which is life and peace (Romans 8:6). So, the words God says to us are so beautiful that we desire to out of love claim ourselves as His servants (“I am the Lord’s servant”), and say “yes” to His word. We also, like Mary, can say let it be done according to Your word – with a glorious perspective knowing that God is not a man to lie (Numbers 23:19), and it will all come true…and awe-struck us completely!

    Moreover, I heard once someone say “we will never seek to do His will if we do not trust His love.” That and John Piper’s: “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him,” has spoken wonders to me. It says that it is God’s will for us to give thanks in all things (1 Thess. 5), so it is His will for us to have joyful hearts always. Thus, receiving God’s word (the bible), and applying His instruction to our lives, will bring joy. If it doesn’t our flesh is making a rebuttal because it doesn’t like to die. But I can trust that in time following God’s word will make my joy complete, as He says it will (John 15:11). & I can wait in astonishment as Mary did, for God to prove His word true…for He does not lie 🙂

    Ashley
    http://graceforthewearytraveler.blogspot.com

    Reply

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6 inspiring lessons of service from women in the bible

by Amy L. Sullivan time to read: 1 min
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