Everyone is important!

Luke 8:1 -13

It would be easy for me to focus the devotional on the sowing of the seed. Perhaps tomorrow I will but there is something in this passage we could miss if we read through it too quickly.

Luke takes the time to list three women Mary, Joanna, and Susanna. Why is this significant? In this culture at this time women were second-class citizens. Not considered very important. We don’t know how old they were, however we do know that Joanna was most likely well off because of her husbands position. Luke breaks all protocol and gives them a significant mention in this passage.

Why is it important that Luke mentions them actually a few of reasons. First, the Lord wants to break down the barriers. All of us are created in God’s image, all have value so no matter what your sex, race, or heritage we are all equal in the sight of God and should be equal in the sight of man. What has been misunderstood and abused is that while we are all equal we each of different functions in our relationships to each other and it is not that one function is more important than another they are simply different. God is making it very clear that women and men are equally important in the sight of God and valuable with their own unique function and person due to sex and gifts.

Secondly, it is alluded to here that these women and others played a significant role in keeping Jesus’ ministry going, “they gave out of their substance”. It is noted that they were playing a significant role as well with keeping the entire ministry that Jesus was doing going. Everyone who gives to a ministry receives part of the blessing of that ministry, every life touched or changed is done by everyone who supports, “give a cup of water in the name of a prophet and receive a prophet’s reward!”

Third, Mary’s life was a mess before she came to Jesus. Often we can allow our past to control us, secretly thinking, “What do I have to offer, I have messed up so much?” Anything the Lord redeems has great value. God does not hold back opening the door for every gift skill and talent to be used. He gave them to you and expects you to use them. We can’t look at our past and allow it to control us. Paul used his past as a reminder of how far he has come and to keep himself humble but did not stay there. Mary did not allow her past to keep her in bondage either. She became one of the most important women in Jesus earthly ministry, a tremendous woman of courage and faith.

You are important to the Lord, your family and your church family today! You are an extremely valuable person. Does your past have messes in it? Most likely! Is God surprised? No! He knows all about you, loves you and called you to a high calling. All we have to do is trust him enough to believe that He does love us and wants to use us to change the world! How will you change the world today?