They All Left – Women’s Devotion
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 EHV
The Great Goodbyes.
These words have tenderly flown from my heart during a farewell hug. You know about these types of goodbyes too—they can be powerful moments. Some goodbyes are especially memorable because they signal a change in what will happen.
Scripture is filled with significant goodbyes. Abraham left his father’s home trusting only in God’s promises. Ruth moved away from her family in Moab because she heard about Israel’s God. The Jews were taken from the promised land by their captors though they were the chosen nation. New Testament Christians fled from Jerusalem under the persecution of Rome.
The Bible shows us how God used each of these great goodbyes.
Intentionally.
Purposefully.
God built Abraham into a nation. He gave Ruth a son that would be the forerunner of the Savior. God worked repentance in the hearts of the Jewish exiles—and when the Christians fled from Jerusalem, God sent them with the message of Christ. The truth about the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ was carried into Gentile territory to bring salvation to the lost.
Intentionally.
Purposefully.
In the same way, hundreds of godly women left the WELS Women’s Ministry conference with great goodbyes. Nurtured by God’s Word and encouraged with powerful applications of Scripture, these women said goodbye to one another equipped with Holy Spirit. Their parting was significant because they returned to their homes renewed with strength to live in God’s grace. They left the conference to continue God’s path of living for his glory.
Sarah returned to Louisiana where she teaches a women’s Bible study. Meredith returned to Georgia to participate in community events and build relationships where she shares Christ (and picks up garbage in the parking lot so it looks nice for visitors). Naomi returned to her nursing career in Wisconsin and has been fueled in her passion for ministry to teen girls. Elise returned to Ecuador, supported by the love of hundreds of women. And as Leah traveled home to Colorado, she was able to witness to two people about God’s love and forgiveness.
You also have this opportunity—even if you weren’t at the Women’s Ministry Conference because God has already planned good works for you to do. He has empowered you with his Spirit to proclaim his grace in Christ—to dig deeply into the Word and then tell others about what you know. He has equipped you to bear up under hardships and carry the cross of Christ in a dark world that needs forgiveness. He sends you out into your daily life, bearing his image, and sharing his truth.
Intentionally.
Purposefully.
Hear these great words of our God as you set foot on his path to tell everyone about what Jesus did on the cross to pay for sin and bring us eternal peace with God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, your work of salvation brings peace to our hearts and gives us the promise of eternal life with you. Thank you for being our Savior from sin. Thank you for covering us with your mercy and grace. Yet Lord, you have done even more! As if saving us weren’t enough, your great love has called us into your family and given us purpose and direction. You put us in places and relationships where we can bear your image and show the world your selfless love. Strengthen us for that responsibility, urge us to see the lost and lonely among us, then prompt us to talk about what it means to be forgiven and how you desire to help those in need. Put your Word in our hearts and your name on our breasts that we may live in grateful, joyful, thanksgiving. Remind us that your plans for us are intentional and purposeful—and that you will bless us according to your perfect will. We ask for these things in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Written by Naomi Schmidt
