Tag Archives: equality

Men and women are equal, not the same (1 Timothy 2), June 20, 2015

Today’s Podcast


Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Timothy 2
Set – 2 Kings 4; 1 Timothy 2
Go! – 2 Kings 4-5; Psalms 83; 1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2
1 So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. 2 Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy— 3 all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior 4 who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth. 5 Because

There is one God and one Mediator between God and us—
the man Jesus, God’s Anointed,
6 Who gave His life as a ransom for all
so that we might have freedom.
The testimony was given to me at just the right time. 7 This is exactly what I was appointed to do—tell everyone His story—as a herald, an emissary, a teacher of the outsiders in faith and the truth. (Listen, I promise it’s all true. I’m not lying.)

8 So here’s what you tell them; here’s what I want to see: Men, pray wherever you are. Reach your holy hands to heaven—without rage or conflict—completely open. 9 Women, the same goes for you: dress properly, modestly, and appropriately. Don’t get carried away in grooming your hair or seek beauty in glittering gold, pearls, or expensive clothes. 10 Instead, as is fitting, let good works decorate your true beauty and show that you are a woman who claims reverence for God. 11 It’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly in complete submission.

12 Now, Timothy, it’s not my habit to allow women to teach in a way that wrenches authority from a man. As I said, it’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly. 13 This is because Adam was formed first by God, then Eve. 14 Plus, it wasn’t Adam who was tricked; it was she—the woman was the one who was fooled and disobeyed God’s command first. 15 Still, God, in His faithfulness, will deliver her through childbearing as long as she remains in faith and love and holiness with self-restraint.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The debate still goes on today, what place should women hold in My church? For Me, it’s an easy answer. I created both men and women. I made Adam from the dust of the earth. I made all other living creatures from that same creative dust…except for woman. When I created woman, I put Adam to sleep, took flesh and bone from his side and created woman from it.

I didn’t use flesh from Adam’s feet nor did I use flesh from his head, but from Adam’s side. Symbolically, I wanted men and women to understand neither is greater or lesser than the other. Men have muscular strength to enable them to provide for a family. Women have the ability to nurture and care for a family bringing love and emotional stability to the home.

Do you want to know what I think of women? Just watch the way Jesus treated them as He walked among you. He spoke with the woman at the well. He sat in Lazarus’ home and allowed Mary to sit and listen to His teaching. He encouraged women to minister to others around Him and blessed them for their acts of service.

Men and women stand side by side in importance in My eyes. Does that mean equal? Not if equal means the same. I made men and women different with different gifts, different physical and psychological frameworks. I made men and women with unique characteristics because I want each to be interdependent upon the other.

Some use Paul’s words to say women have no place speaking in the church. But listen to Paul’s words again. That isn’t what he said. Paul instructs Timothy to not allow women to teach in a way that wrenches authority from men. That’s part of the problem with society today. One gender thinks it must lord over the other. That has never been My intent and never will be. I created both men and women and both are necessary for the maturing of My highest creation.

Men and women need each other. Yes, there are some that I direct to remain celibate throughout their lives and instead devote their lives solely to Me, but those individuals are few and far between. As Paul reminds you in his letters, few can accept that life. What I want for most is to find a partner for life and recognize the success that comes through your relationship together.

Don’t let the world fool you into thinking anything different than what I lay out in My word. I have a place, an important place for men and women in My kingdom.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Women have a special place (Numbers 36), Mar 4, 2015

Today’s Podcast


Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Numbers 36
Set – Numbers 36; Mark 11
Go! – Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Numbers 36
1The heads of the extended families traced back to Joseph through Gilead (son of Machir, son of Manasseh) approached Moses, the community’s leaders, and the heads of Israel’s extended families to share their concerns.

Zelophehad’s Family: 2 We appreciate and accept that the Eternal One told Moses, my lord, that among the land given by lot to the Israelites, whatever would have gone to Zelophehad (our kinsman) as an inheritance should be passed down to his daughters. 3 The trouble is, if they marry outside of our tribe into another Israelite tribe, their land will go with them. That will reduce the territory designated to our family and increase the other tribe’s inheritance. 4 And in the great 50th year, the Sabbath of Sabbath years called the Jubilee of the Israelites, whatever land used to be ours through their connection to our family will certainly revert to whichever tribe they married into. In other words, their inheritance will be forever taken away from the territory that belongs to our extended family.

Moses (to all the Israelites): 5 The Eternal has said that these descendants of Joseph are right. 6-9 In light of it, He has determined that Zelophehad’s daughters should marry whomever they think is best, but they should do so within the clan of their extended family so that their land stays in the family. The same goes for any future Israelite daughters in a similar situation. Let them marry whomever they will, but only within the clan of their father’s extended family. There shouldn’t be any permanent transfer of land from one tribe to another because the territories should be fixed as each tribe’s inheritance for all time.

10-11 The daughters of Zelophehad didn’t argue or dissent. They obeyed the command of the Eternal One as articulated by Moses. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah each married one of their cousins 12 from a clan of Manesseh (Joseph’s son). Thus, they and their land stayed within the Manasseh clan.

13 These are the directions and instructions the Eternal One gave through Moses to the Israelites before they entered Canaan, as they stood on the Moabite flatlands next to the Jordan River, east of Jericho.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The possession of land within the territory I promised Abraham was an important part of the covenant with him. Abraham’s descendants didn’t forget this aspect of the covenant. Nor did they forget the levitical rules about the transfer of property I gave them. Many in the ancient societies downplayed the role of women, but I made them equal to men. This story is a reminder of the importance I place on women in society.

Read about it in Genesis. I made woman, not from the same dust I made My other creations, but from the flesh and bone of man. I took a rib from Adam, not a foot or a jawbone, a rib. I meant for the two of them to remain side by side throughout their lives. Yes, I made woman submissive to man’s final decision in matters of leadership, but not without the careful consideration of the wife’s input. A husband and wife, man and woman, are a team…always. Both are equally important to the success of a healthy home.

Any who feel women hold an inferior place in society need only look at the reaction of Jesus or Peter or Paul toward them. Women were part of their entourage. Women held prominent positions in the early church. Women carried the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Women did things and are remembered for things that others would think belong only in the realm of the male population in those days. But not Jesus. Not Paul. Not the leaders of the new faith in Christ who understood the real position of women in My Kingdom.

The daughters of Zelophehad reminded Moses and Moses reminded the rest of the Israelites what I told him about the important place of women held in the Israelite society. Through the centuries since, men have tried to demote women’s place too often. But this story and others within My word serve as a constant remembrances that I hold a special place in My heart for women as well as men. I made them both.

The next time you think one gender or the other holds a higher place, remember the story of Zelophehad’s daughters. I made special provisions for them because of the role I hold for women in My world. Every person had a mother. Every person owes a woman his or her life. They do indeed hold a special place in the world. Never think of them as lesser or inferior. Nor are they greater than men. I intended them to hold an equal place. Man and woman coming together as one flesh to create a family to share My values, My plans, My purpose for them individually and collectively.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.