Lessons From the Week

 

This post contains affiliate links.

I joined a Proverbs 31 Bible study for the summer. I'm really excited about this study because it is for the whole chapter, not just for verses ten through thirty one.  Along with this study, I have been reading Raising Kids with Character That Lasts by John and Susan Yates. This little book... OH.MY. GOODNESS! The Yates have hit the nail on the head when it comes to teaching character to our children.

These are just a few things I have learned this week.

The most important thing going on in my life at this moment is raising my son. If I don't invest the time and effort into training him for the Lord, then I am "throwing away" the gift that God gave to me.  I may have to repeat myself, but if my son does not leave his teachings behind when he is older, then all those times will be worth it.

 Our children see the "real" us when others do not. Kinda nerve-racking when you think about it. "It should be our goal as parents to equip our children with the character necessary to live a life pleasing to God." ~Susan Yates  

While we are teaching our children about sin, we need to be sure we are giving the "why we (not our opinions, but what God says) stay away from it". Sin can be a temporary situation, but the effects will last a lifetime. God has a special plan for our children and sin can hinder that plan.

For whatever reason, people are going to do things (drink, drugs, etc.) to ease the pain of real life. But for a child of God, it is never right to do those things. If the opportunity arises, help those in need. Our children need to be taught to be fair and not judgmental towards others; to be caring and compassionate.

"We have the responsibility and the privilege to help our children learn to be outstanding men and women. We teach them in the ordinary activities of the day-to-day life we share... the influence of family on character cannot be overemphasized." John Yates

A Look Within - Mary Magdeline

I'm very picky about the books I read. Devotionals are at the top of the list of types of books I normally do not buy because they are a study of the Bible from another's view point. There are very few I've read and would recommend.  The devotional book, I'm sharing today is one I would not recommend to just anyone but someone who I know is grounded in the Bible. There are things the author and I do not agree upon; like the facts in the story of Dinah and her horrible situation and Leah never finding joy in her marriage, just to name two.  Knowing how to pick through one's view point to get to the meat of the Biblical principles is a valuable tool.

this post contains affiliate links

As I mentioned early, you'll need to pick through Mrs. Taylor's view point on certain matters, but over all I enjoyed the study in the book  A Look Within by Faith Alvis Taylor.  Included in the book there is a study on Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Dinah, Miriam, Hannah, Michal, Esther, and Mary Magdalene.

When I got to the chapter on Mary Magdalene, I really learned a lot. There is not a tremendous amount of information about her in the Bible. But what is there, really tells a lot about what kind of person she was.

In every verse that Mary Magdalene is mentioned - Jesus was there also. The only thing is, Mary Magdalene was in the crowd that followed and ministered unto Jesus. (Matthew 27:56-61, 28:1-7, Mark 15:40-41, 47, 16:1-11,Luke 8:1-3,Luke 24:10, John 19:25, John 20:1-18)

This word minister according to Webster's dictionary means: to give aid or service.

I can only imagine what it must have been like to minister to Jesus. To be there and offer a cup of water, to gather food and prepare it for Him to eat. Or to take a message to someone. What a real blessing to would have been.

Mary Magdalene not only ministered unto Jesus when He was alive, but she tried to minister unto Him when He was hanging on the cross and at His burial. How sad, it must have been to be at the cross that day and then at the tomb that evening. I can't even imagine what must have been going through Mary Magdalene's mind.

When I read about when Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden after He arose, I get chills up my arms. To think Jesus chose her to be the first he appears to. Why? I think it has a lot to do with how she ministered unto Jesus and how she believed in who He is and what He came to do. I think her character had a lot to do with it.

What kind of character do you think Mary Magdalene had? I think she was Believing - she believed everything Jesus told her. I think she was Faithful - she was there in the "background" doing all that she could to help His ministry. I think she was Trustworthy - she could be sent to deliver a message about the resurrection. I think she was Competent- she could handle any job that was placed upon her. I think she was a Friend - she was with Jesus' mother Mary at one of the darkest moments in her life. She was there at the cross, watching all that was going on and at the sepulcher when Jesus was being buried.

Why would Mary Magdalene spend so much time ministering to Jesus? I believe that Mary Magdalene was extremely Grateful, for all that Jesus had done for her. At one time, she was a possessed women walking around the town, now she was a follower and believer of Jesus.

Mary Magdalene is one of many who are mentioned in the Bible, who had a "past," but they served the Lord. We can be just like this, no matter what our past maybe like. Jesus doesn't require us to give up our lives and families to serve Him. In fact we know what is required of us when we read Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what do the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord the God, to walk in all his ways and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy god with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

When I think about all that Jesus went through, for me, for us. Why can't we give our whole lives to Him?

A Look Within: A Women's Bible Study

By Faith Alvis Taylor / JourneyForth