Every Monday at 4pm I have Bible Study with the women from our church. God had laid on my heart a message that I was to bring to them. I knew this message would be hard. But I also knew that God has called me to speak the Truth in all things.
A few weeks earlier we had a team of Americans here and they had a journal they wanted to give away after their lesson. Instead of my Amazingly Spiritual Women lining up in a straight line to collect their journal as they left the church – it was Lord of The Flies! People were pushing and shoving – fighting to get to the front of the line – and then going back in line to get another journal! How embarrassing for me – and how embarrassing for them!
God laid on my heart that I needed to call these women out on their animal-like behavior and simply speak the truth to them. So when it was time for me to speak I told the ladies that I had a present to give them. My only problem was I didn’t have enough for everyone. No one knew what the present was. So I told them that the way I would decide who would get the gift is that the first 5 people to make a straight line would get it. I was going to turn my back and count to 3.
1 – 2 – 3 – – BOOM! People were shoving and pushing and climbing over pews (knocking people down). I had Miss Beth make her way from the back of the line to the front of the line (exactly what people were doing a few weeks ago). It was utter chaos for about 45 seconds.
So I pulled out of my bag the “gift” that they were willing to kill each other over. It was 5 little citrons! So the first 5 people got 1 tiny little citron.
Instead of personally calling them out by name – I used Miss Beth as my example. I told them how disappointed I was in her. She is supposed to be a mature Christian woman. She is supposed to set the example to all the non-Christians in the Mole. BUT here she was pushing and shoving people. She was in the back of the line and fought to be in the front of the line. For what? For a little lime?
Then we read a few scriptures together:
Matthew 20:26 – Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 – As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
James 1:13 – 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
******
I believe with all my heart that these women are truly anointed with the spirit. They pray and sacrifice like no one else I know. They are apart of our 4am prayer services. They truly are amazing Christian women. What they did that day doesn’t change what I think about them. It does however expose a weakness in their heart.
I explained to them that in those moments of temptation – we are to remain imitators of Christ. Did they understand that they were willing to sell who they are in Christ for a little citron today? Everyone seemed to understand what was being said. Many tried to blame it on other people – but I didn’t let any of them get away with that. If they weren’t guilty today or the day that we handed out journals – there has been a time in their life when they rushed to put themselves before their fellow brothers/sisters in Christ.
When I was done speaking the Pastor’s wife went over the contract that all the women signed. It actually talks about how they are to act when gifts are given. There are over 30 principles in the contract.
Now I knew when we left that people were still “grumbling” to themselves. However – truth is truth. Maybe they needed to reflect on it that night. They needed to hear it no matter what.
*****
What I didn’t expect was for a group of them to show up at church the next morning while the single mom’s were meeting. The ladies decided it was the single mom’s fault. They took my words and twisted them. They said that I said all the women in the Mole were animals. Seriously? The ladies were about to deck each other out! Oh my precious women have found a new way to embarrass themselves and me again!
So the Americans came to find me at my office. Momma Gigi, the Pastor’s wife and myself went to the church again. It took a while to calm everyone down. I redid my speech. Both Momma Gigi and the Pastor’s wife explained what had happened. If we know that one of our children has done something wrong – we have to correct it. After much discussion many of the women who stood up yelling when we arrived were 100% on board after we talked.
Just Another Drama-Filled Week in the Mole…..
Jody, what a testimony! Thank you for reminding us to do what the Lord has laid upon our hearts even when it is hard, people don’t listen and it may seem to cause even more problems. You were faithful to God’s leading and He rewarded all of you in the end. Can you please post the 30 principles you mentioned? I’m sure I need to think and pray about all of them for myself!
I will get it translated and post it!! 🙂
Wow. I know that must have been hard for you. Yet you did what God told you to do. Sometimes we are so surprised at what happens when we do as He tells us. It doesn’t always go smoothly. People don’t immediately change their ways or take in the message the right way. But we have to do what God says and trust Him to make it work. I pray they will all understand your words and each one work on herself instead of blaming. This doesn’t only apply to them. We all get caught up in the excitement of getting something sometimes. I will continue to pray for you and the ladies.