I knew that title would catch your eye. I'm quoting someone who probably took a different tack with it that I am going to take. I probably could have skipped saying that... at least if you have read these before.
I've read about some women in the Bible whose history is, shall we say... interesting. Tamar, the woman at the well, Jezebel, Bathsheba, and let's not forget Rahab. A woman who had a lot of... friends.
There is something that is easy to overlook when making a list of the bad, bad girls of the bible... God used them.
He saw their flaws. Their insecurities. Their sin. He never overlooked any of it. He held them accountable for the wrongs they had done. There is no way to skate free when we go against God.
But there is something else that is quite extraordinary. God never cast one of them aside because their lives were less than they should have been. We tend to think that if we mess up and have sin of any kind that we are no longer in a place where God can use us ... for anything.
Not so.
God can use anyone who is willing to let Him use them according to His purposes. There are rules, however. It means understanding that things we have done need to stop being done. We need to not only stop doing them, but ask for forgiveness for what we have done.
Little parenthetical thought here: saying 'I'm sorry' isn't repenting. That's apologizing.
After repenting (means stopping what you're doing, asking for forgiveness, and then not doing it any more), then there is restoration. Jesus can use those who are serious about wanting to get back on the right track.
The bible tells us God used all of the women above in one way or another. Some for examples of what forgiveness means. Some for examples that God means what He says and He doesn't let sin slide. Each of their stories was an example of God using anyone. Everyone. He's not going to let something we have done spoil His plan. (Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11)
Not perfect women by any means. Some have made quite a bit of history.
However, God allowed their history to become His story. The story of Him working through them ... and that's really where everyone's story begins.
I've read about some women in the Bible whose history is, shall we say... interesting. Tamar, the woman at the well, Jezebel, Bathsheba, and let's not forget Rahab. A woman who had a lot of... friends.
There is something that is easy to overlook when making a list of the bad, bad girls of the bible... God used them.
He saw their flaws. Their insecurities. Their sin. He never overlooked any of it. He held them accountable for the wrongs they had done. There is no way to skate free when we go against God.
But there is something else that is quite extraordinary. God never cast one of them aside because their lives were less than they should have been. We tend to think that if we mess up and have sin of any kind that we are no longer in a place where God can use us ... for anything.
Not so.
God can use anyone who is willing to let Him use them according to His purposes. There are rules, however. It means understanding that things we have done need to stop being done. We need to not only stop doing them, but ask for forgiveness for what we have done.
Little parenthetical thought here: saying 'I'm sorry' isn't repenting. That's apologizing.
After repenting (means stopping what you're doing, asking for forgiveness, and then not doing it any more), then there is restoration. Jesus can use those who are serious about wanting to get back on the right track.
The bible tells us God used all of the women above in one way or another. Some for examples of what forgiveness means. Some for examples that God means what He says and He doesn't let sin slide. Each of their stories was an example of God using anyone. Everyone. He's not going to let something we have done spoil His plan. (Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11)
Not perfect women by any means. Some have made quite a bit of history.
However, God allowed their history to become His story. The story of Him working through them ... and that's really where everyone's story begins.
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