Can you find yourself in the Bible? I’ve been thinking about that today. Surely there is some Bible character that I am like more than some others. None of us would want to be Judas or Jezebel, but a Joshua or Jochebed would be desirable, to say the least.
Remember Jochebed, the mother of Moses? I think I’d be brave enough to save my baby from being murdered, but I’ve never faced that dilemma, knowing that the edict was kill my baby or be killed. Of course the story worked out beautifully, but Jochebed didn’t know that when she made her choice. I can’t be sure I’d be Jochebed.
The Mary or Martha question is a classic. As a child I was Mary, always wanting to listen to what the visiting preacher had to say instead of helping Mother in the kitchen. As a young adult, my Martha took over. For years, in fact.
Now I’m trying to be Mary again. (Not that I sit at the feet of my preacher, but sometimes I do rub his feet! J ) I’d rather be at the spiritual feast after the physical one and leave the cleanup till later. (Fortunately, the other Marthas often get the kitchen cleaned up before I get back to it!)
Think of Timothy, the young learner, following Paul both physically and spiritually. I’m too old to be a Timothy, in years and in the faith.
And Paul! I think I don’t know a Paul. My friend Bob has the wisdom of Paul, but Bob had a loving wife to be at his side doing the Lord’s work. Working without a spouse is difficult. Not to mention being imprisoned.
I love the idea of being a Barnabas, an encourager. I can see some of Barnabas in me at times, but I’m not selling all I have and giving it to grow the church. Why do these Christian people go all out for their faith? I’m afraid I see myself more as a Laodicean than a Barnabas. Why couldn’t he have just been an encourager and not sacrificed so much? Bummer.
Not a Dorcas. Gave up sewing years ago.
Maybe Lydia. She worked hard in her business; I worked hard as a teacher and now as a writer. She left her home in Thyatira to live in Philippi; I grew up in Tennessee but live in Kentucky. She urged Paul and Barnabas to stay at her house; I often urge people, especially preachers and teachers of the Word, to stay at my house. The church met in her house; I host a weekly Bible study in my home as well as other church gatherings. Fortunately that’s about all we know about Lydia! So maybe I can be Lydia, and I’ll work toward other Bible characters we know more about.
What Bible character are you?
Please comment at http://lanitaboyd.com/2012/09/what-bible-character-are-you/ .
Brenda
Lydia even sounds like Lanita! So maybe that’s you. I tease my friend, Jan, that she is more like Martha and I’m more like Mary. I will gladly take you out to dinner, but I’m just not the entertainer, homemaker that she is. I love to do bedside care and talk, listen, add a comforting touch.
Funny, I learned to keep the biblical Mary & Martha straight by thinking of Martha as Martha Stewart! lol
Lanita Boyd
Thanks for your comments, Brenda! Let’s hope to be a mixture of Mary and Martha, but it’s not easy to stretch beyond our gifts as itemized in Romans 12:3-10.
Kenda
I loved this post, Lanita. Thought-provoking 🙂 I was always fascinated by the story of Shiphrah and Puah, Hebrew midwives who defied the Egyptian king’s edict to kill all boy babies–and chose life instead no matter the consequences. I would hope I’d have such courage and faith…
Lanita Boyd
Thanks for your comment, Kenda! I’d never thought of those two as models, and yet you are right–what courage and faith!