Last fall I was asked to lead a group of women in the study, "Transformed Women in the Bible." The study group of ten included women of various ages and walks of life: young mothers, career gals, divorced ones, middle aged and older grandmothers, As we gathered around the table in the church kitchen each week, I was excited to see that the gals were reading the lessons and were anxious to share. I have led Bible studies over the years where only a few took part in the discussion, so to have every person anxious to share was wonderful! The layout of the chapters made preparing for the lesson each week a breeze and the length of the reading was just right for busy women.
As we studied women in the New Testament, it was soon evident that we were really studying Jesus and how He responded to these women and their needs. I was aware that Christ was opening the hearts of the women in my group as they began to share their hurts. One was going through a divorce, another facing possible breast cancer, others concerned about their children and grandchildren. One younger gal shared that she had come from a Mormon background and had decided to take this study to find who Jesus really was. Her thoughts and questions each week were insightful.
God was doing a work in us all as we found hope through the Scriptures and comfort as we prayed for each other. Our last session was a few weeks before Christmas and I had made a Christmas ornament for each woman. The tree shaped ornament had various names of Jesus listed on it. I asked the gals to think about the study and what Jesus had become to them or who they wanted him to become to them in the new year. The young gal from the Mormon background spoke up first and excitedly said, "He has become Jesus to me!" Praise God! Studying Jesus had helped her find her Savior!
