A Lineage of Grace

Over the past few weeks I have been reading A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers. Each time I finish one of the stories of these incredible women it makes me wonder why I haven't read the stories before. Each one is inspiring in different ways but each has one thing in common, the never ending faith that the women had that the Lord was all they ever needed. I saw this the most in the story of Ruth. She took on a faith foreign to her because of the example set for her by her mother-in-law. She was so loyal to Naome and to God that she abandoned everything she knew and went with Naomi. Even though they had very little she had faith that God would provide. Even when people threw rocks at her and when they lived in a cave she still had rock solid faith that God would provide for her, and he did. He gave her Boaz who loved her and had longed for a wife for many years. He was able to provide for them because of his faith.

I just finished the story of Bathsheba and I am in awe of her as well. Yes, she made a mistake but don't we all? I know that I have. For a long while the only way that Bathsheba could function was knowing that the Lord was watching over her family. I am also in awe of her bravery. She would of given up herself to protect her sons. She wanted to actually. She was always in awe of what mercy God granted his people. In awe of the mercy he granted her. Even though she sinned grately she was forgiven because she repented. She was the only one of David's wives that raised her sons in the way of the Lord and it was her son that became king.

Each woman in the series has brought about a characteristic that I pray that I can have. Tamar had a great strength that even when women were of little worth she stood for what she knew was right. Rahab walked in blind faith and had bravery. She turned her back on her family even after she had saved them not knowing if she would be accepted into God's peolple because of her profession. Ruth prayed constantly that her needs and Naome's needs would be met, but that Naomi's would be met first. She was a prayer warrior and God delivered. Her faith was never shaken. Bathsheba had a great strength and great wisdom. She had a moment of weakness, yes, but she also learned so much from the discipline that she recieved. It taught her so much and she passed that knowledge onto her sons.

Reading the stories of each of these women is helping me to understand what potential each person who follows Christ has. It is scary and not always easy, but how much do we learn when something is easy? Not a lot. When we learn a lesson the hard way it sticks, that doesn't mean that every lesson has to be hard, but each lesson must be learned none-the-less. Every person that wants to be brave, faithful, strong, and a prayer warrior can, it just takes dedication and a really big God. The good thing is we have a God that is bigger and stronger than we can ever imagine, and he loves us more than we could ever know and he grants us the gift of grace daily.