A Great and Noble Army of Holy
Women, J. R. Miller, Daily Bible Readings
in the Life of Christ, 1890. And many women were there beholding
from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto
Him, Matthew 27, 55. These were the earliest of a
great and noble army of holy women attached to Christ by deep
personal love, following and ministering unto Him. In all
ages since, Christian women have shown similar devotion and constancy
to Christ, and similar heroic love in serving Him. The record
of women's ministry to Christ is one of the brightest in all
the world's history. Women owe an incalculable debt
to Christ. He has lifted them up from base
thralldom and from degradation. Women have always been grateful
to and have served Christ with great devotion. Women are found
in every sick-room, bending over the sufferer with unwearing solicitude,
with matchless tenderness ministering to bodily comfort and pouring
the warmth of affection upon feverish spirits, They are found
in the wards of hospitals and upon battlefields, moving like
God's angels in blessed, loving ministry. Faithful Christian
mothers are following the Master and doing work which will shine
forever in glorious luster. Faithful Christian Sunday School
teachers are doing quiet service in lowly paths, which in God's
sight is nobler than that of many of earth's famous ones.
Everywhere, too, there is an open field for women's ministry,
Christ is no longer here in person to be served, as He was served
by these women who followed Him from Galilee, but in His needy
and suffering followers He is ever present, and whoever will,
may minister unto Him, for He said that in doing acts of kindness
to the least of His people, we do them unto Him. Much practical
teaching is in this picture, which is here held up before
every woman, inspiring her to wholeheartedly follow Christ.
Why do so many young Christian girls choose a life of idleness,
of love of pleasure, of aimless, purposeless existence, of mere
dressing, promenading, and trifling, when such a life of glorious
service is open to them?