June 14, 2009

• Don’t let anyone look down on you…

  I woke up this morning with a new rendition of an old and familiar Bible verse, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are a woman, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”  (from 1 Tim 4:12)  Now, I don’t normally advocate editing the Bible, but the message felt like a specific word from the Lord to me this morning. 

  The verse actually says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young…”  When I was in high school, this verse struck a special chord in me.  Although these instructions were from Paul to Timothy, who was a young pastor, I felt like the truth applied to me as well.  I knew that because I was young (and very young looking), there might be a little dismissal of me as a servant of the gospel and ambassador for Christ.  Somehow, this seemed even more relevant in the hierarchical Asian context, where the elders are given the highest regard.  But as a new believer, I knew that I had something to contribute to the Kingdom of God.  I knew that God had just as much pleasure using me to minister to those around me as the oldest person in the Kingdom, even if I was a teenager who had only come to know Christ within the last few weeks/months.  Unlike at large companies where seniority is king, the kingdom of God isn’t about how long you have been a member but how much you are obedient to Christ. 

  And I was determined to be obedient.  When Christ told me to share the gospel with my long-time friends at school, I sat them down and shared with them the Bridge illustration (which I initially learned from my pastor).  When Christ told me to meet up with other girls in my youth group to pray for their walks with God, I went — even though it still scared me silly to pray out loud.  When Christ told me to start a Bible study, I sent out ‘invitations’ — even though I had never been in a Bible study before.  If Christ had told me to walk a thousand miles, I would’ve done it.  And though I was young, inexperienced and lacked training, I was making a positive impact on the Kingdom, and He was pleased with me. 

  It doesn’t matter if you are young, God wants to use you.  Be obedient to Him, and set an example to other believers in your speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.  That was my motto.

  This morning, God reminded me that the same thing applies to me as a woman.  Even though I have a very clear, Biblical understanding of God’s equal estimation of men and women, the stunning realization that half of the believers in America believe that women have less value and should not take on certain roles has shaken me to the core.  For far too long, I have let others “look down on me” because I am a woman.  I let it stop me from being obedient to Christ.  God’s message to me this morning was the same as when I was a youth.  Just don’t let others look down on me, don’t let them dismiss me or presume things about me, and don’t let them go on believing in the untruths that women can’t or shouldn’t do certain things if God has called them to do them.  But how to achieve this is not through debate or argument.  The answer is simply to be obedient and, in that way, demonstrate to other believers that God can and does use women mightily for His Kingdom.  “Set an example,” He says, “through speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.”  “Yes, Lord,” I say.

  • 5:55 pm
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