Anchor Devotional

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Our Precious Widows

“The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.” 1 Timothy 5:5

Paul speaks at length about the powerful ministry that widows can have among us. It seems that the church in Ephesus had a thriving ministry that included widows. Most scholars take Paul’s words to mean it was a ministry where a widow not only qualified to receive help, but also was of service to the body of Christ.

Paul encourages the church to look for maturity and faithfulness in the precious believers among them who now are without their spouses. The widow’s ministry is one of mercy and service, and she will have demonstrated those in her life thus far. What a blessing to the church that wisdom of experience is!

Devastating losses in our life do not mean our kingdom usefulness is over. Widows and widowers, you may have a unique ability to minister among us, given your circumstances. You need our care and support, but you also have so much to offer us. You empathize with the suffering, since you have also been through the valley. Because you have received comfort in your loss, you also can be an agent of God’s comfort to others.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
1 Timothy 5:3-16

INSIGHT
Father, we thank You for those who understand what it means to walk through the valleys. Be their comfort and use them mightily among us. Amen

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Samuel 13-14
Psalm 142
1 Thessalonians 1-2

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