The Woman and Her Legacy

Throughout history, women have played a fundamental role in God's work, serving as channels of blessing, restoration, and the advancement of the gospel. From the time of the Bible until today, God has raised up women willing to fulfill His calling with courage and faithfulness. I have been reflecting on how Jesus has called, restored, and lifted up women by His grace throughout history and how this is evident throughout Scripture. Many have left a significant legacy in the expansion of the gospel. Like them, we have the opportunity today to contribute to this mission by the grace of God. The Lord has called us for such a time as this so that others may come to know the love of the One who lifts up, restores, and makes all things new.

In the eyes of Jesus, women were always valuable and played a crucial role in the history of redemption. In the Gospel of Matthew, five women are mentioned in Jesus' genealogy—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—some with difficult pasts, yet redeemed and used by God as instruments for the arrival of the Savior. Their inclusion in the genealogy demonstrates that God does not conform to human standards but works with mercy and redemption to fulfill His purposes.

The role of women in the early church was shaped by Jesus’ example and the openness He showed toward them in His ministry. The most important message in history was first proclaimed by His faithful female followers, who were the first to see the empty tomb and share the news with the disciples. Following Jesus' example in how He treated women, the disciples did the same, allowing them to take on significant roles in the early church. From its beginnings, women were present in the church. Acts 1:14 emphasizes that the apostles were united in prayer along with the women. They contributed to the expansion of the kingdom as deaconesses, heads of households, businesswomen, prophetesses, disciples, elders, and teachers. Some chose to remain widows and dedicate their lives to serving the church.

The apostle Paul mentions Phoebe in Romans 16:1 as a deaconess of Cenchreae. She was a faithful follower of Jesus and the only woman explicitly given this title. Deacons were often the owners of the houses where the church gathered, and in the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, we see that many of these homes were led by women. They transformed them into places of blessing and prayer. Today, God invites us not only to open our homes but also our hearts so that others may come to know the One who transforms from within. The word diakonos means "servant," and many women served God without titles but with wholehearted dedication.

Another significant role was that of disciples. In Acts 9:36, Tabitha or Dorcas is referred to as a disciple. Having been transformed and lifted up by God's grace, she understood the importance of sharing with others what she had received. She knew that faith without works is dead (James 2:17) and devoted her life to serving the poor and widows. Her legacy was so profound that even today, ministries bear her name. She was a disciple committed to uplifting others. Likewise, we too can leave a greater legacy than we imagine if we obey and surrender our lives to God's service. In all of this, He will be glorified. Furthermore, women in the early church were known for their hospitality. Priscilla, for example, modeled remarkable hospitality and selflessness. Alongside her husband, she actively participated in the expansion of the gospel in Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome. Her hospitality not only benefited believers and gospel followers but also the apostle Paul in his most difficult moments.

These women were wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, widows, young women, and elders. All were lifted up and influenced others by God’s grace. Timothy, for example, was deeply impacted by his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois. Their testimony in his life was so significant that at a young age, he became a leader and pastor of a church. God has chosen the weak and despised things of the world to shame the wise (1 Cor. 1:27-31).

From the beginning, God placed an invaluable treasure in jars of clay to demonstrate that the power comes from Him and not from us (2 Cor. 4:7). Each of these women left a priceless legacy and contributed to the advancement of the gospel. May their lives inspire us today to leave a mark on the expansion of the kingdom—not for our glory, but for the glory of God.

Photo: My grandmother Rosita and I (1994), a woman who left a legacy in the lives of her family and so many others whom she served selflessly, showing them the love and mercy of God. I love you, Grandma.

Written for the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico (IBPR): https://shorturl.at/QVL00