“I have oftentimes noted, when women receive the doctrine of the gospel, they are far more fervent in faith, they hold to it more stiff and fast, than men do; as we see in the loving Magdalen, who was more hearty and bold than Peter.” – Martin Luther
William Hazlitt, Esq., trans., The Table Talk or Familiar Discourse of Martin Luther (London: Fleet Street, 1848), 367. Digitized by Google.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t had a manicure in forever and a day, but this excerpt from Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Hale strikes me as just perfect. While Mabel’s target audience is young girls maturing into womanhood, the wisdom here extends to women of all ages. It also calls to mind the relationship between doctrine and good works. We know that salvation is monergistic, and that no man can muster up what the Spirit alone has power to do. But it is equally true that good deeds have a place in our salvation. Paul told Titus, “I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people” (Titus 3:8). We don’t do good works to be saved, we do good works because we are saved. Good deeds are not the basis of our salvation but they are evidence, and God expects them from us. So, what makes a girl or woman beautiful? Yes, there is something to be said for a pretty face, or well manicured hands! But, there is also something infinitely more important than that! Listen:
“In the cloakroom of a certain school, a question arose among some girls as to who had the most beautiful hands. The teacher listened to her girls thoughtfully. They compared hands and explained secrets of keeping them pretty. Nettie said that a girl could not keep perfect hands — and wash dishes or sweep. Maude spoke of the evil effects of cold and wind, and too much sunshine. Stella told of her favorite cold cream. Ethel spoke of proper manicuring. At last the teacher spoke.
“To my mind Jennie Higgins has the most beautiful hands of any girl in school,” she said quietly.
“Jennie Higgins!” exclaimed Nettie in amazement; “why, her hands are rough and red and look as if she took no care of them. I never thought of them as being beautiful.”
“I have seen those hands carrying food to the sick, and soothing the brow of the aged. She is her widowed mother’s main help, and she it is who does the milking and carries the wood and water, yes, and washes dishes night and morning, that her mother may be saved the hard work. I have never known her to be too tired to speak kindly to her little sister, and help her in her play. I have found those busy hands helping her brother with his kite. I tell you I think they are the most beautiful hands I have ever seen, for they are always busy helping somewhere!”
This is the beauty for which every girl should strive — the beauty that comes from unselfishness and usefulness. Beauty of face and form is secondary in importance, though not to be despised. If used properly, personal beauty is a good gift; but if it turns a girl’s head — then it becomes a curse to her!
Think of such women as are much spoken of through the public press, or who have achieved noble deeds, as Frances Willard, Florence Nightingale, or Edith Cavel — and consider whether you ever heard if they were pretty or not. No one ever thinks of such trifles when speaking of those who are great of soul.
The girl who depends on her pretty face or form for attraction, is to be most pitied! Those articles in magazines that so exalt the idea of outer beauty, are pandering to the baser part of nature. One may be perfectly beautiful so far as that kind of beauty goes — and lack that true beauty which is like a royal diadem upon the head. Those who give much time to increasing their personal charms are living on a lower level, than is altogether befitting to womanhood. A beautiful soul shining out of a homely face — is far more attractive than a beautiful face out of which looks a soul full of selfishness and pride!
My little friend, do not be careless of the good looks that God has given to you, take care in dressing yourself and attending to personal neatness, that you may ever appear at your best; untidiness and carelessness hide the beauty of kind deeds — but greatness of soul and nobility of heart, hide homeliness of face. You cannot see the one for the other. Seek goodness and purity first, then strive to keep the body in harmony with the beauty of the heart. Take time to make yourself presentable — but do not use the time before your looking-glass that should be given to loving service. Let your chief charm be of heart and mind — not of face and form. Seek the true beauty which lasts even into old age!
Solomon, in one of his wise sayings, expressed plainly the evil that comes to a woman who is beautiful of face but lacks the true beauty of soul: “Like a gold ring in a swine’s snout — is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion!” Proverbs 11:22. As the swine would plunge the golden jewel into the filth and the mire as he dug in the dirt — so will a pretty woman who is not godly drag her beauty down to the very lowest.
There are many peculiar temptations to those who are only lovely of face. Without true beauty of soul — a pretty face is a dangerous gift!”
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised!” Proverbs 31:30
Mabel Hale, Beautiful Girlhood (and also here).
And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him” Matthew 27:55
These were the earliest of a great and noble army of holy women — attached to Christ by deep, personal love — following and ministering unto Him. In all the ages since, Christian women have shown similar devotion and constancy to Christ — and similar heroic love in serving Him. The record of women’s ministry to Christ, is one of the brightest in all the world’s history!
Women owe an incalculable debt to Christ. He has lifted them up from base thraldom, and from degradation. Women have always been grateful too, and have served Christ with great devotion.
Women are found in every sickroom, bending over the sufferer with unwearying solicitude, with matchless tenderness ministering to bodily comfort, and pouring the warmth of affection upon feverish spirits. They are found in the wards of hospitals, and upon battlefields, moving like God’s angels in blessed, loving ministry.
Faithful Christian mothers are following the Master and doing work which will shine forever in glorious luster!
Faithful Christian Sunday school teachers are doing quiet service in lowly paths — which in God’s sight, is nobler than that of many of earth’s famous ones!
Everywhere, too, there is an open field for woman’s ministry. Christ is no longer here in person to be served — as He was served by these women who followed Him from Galilee; but in His needy and suffering followers — He is ever present; and whoever will, may minister unto Him! For He said that in doing acts of kindness to the least of His people — we do them unto Him.
Much practical teaching is in this picture, which is here held up before every woman, inspiring her to wholeheartedly follow Christ.
“Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890
and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, – Luke 8:2
“Let us mark … in these verses, the power of the grace of God, and the containing influence of the love of Christ. We read that among those who followed our Lord in his journeyings, were “certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.”
We can well imagine that the difficulties these holy women had to face in becoming Christ’s disciples were neither few nor small. They had their full share of the contempt and scorn which was poured on all the followers of Jesus by the Scribes and Pharisees. They had, besides, many a trial from the hard speeches and hard usage which any Jewish woman who thought for herself about religion would probably have to undergo. But none of these things moved them. Grateful for mercies received at our Lord’s hands, they were willing to endure much for His sake. Strengthened inwardly, by the renewing power of the Holy Ghost, they were enabled to cleave to Jesus and not give way. And nobly they did cleave to Him to the very end! It was not a woman who sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. They were not women who forsook the Lord in the garden and fled. It was not a woman who denied Him three times in the high priest’s house. But they were women who wailed and lamented when Jesus was led forth to be crucified. They were women who stood to the last by the cross. And they were women who were first to visit the grave “where the Lord lay.” Great indeed is the power of the grace of God!
Let the recollection of these women encourage all the daughters of Adam who read of them, to take up the cross and to follow Christ. Let no sense of weakness, or fear of falling away, keep them back from a decided profession of religion. The mother of a large family, with limited means, may tell us that she has not time for religion. The wife of an ungodly husband may tell us that she dares not take up religion. The young daughter of worldly parents may tell us that it is impossible for her to have any religion. The maid-servant in the midst of unconverted companions, may tell us that a person in her place cannot follow religion. But they are all wrong, quite wrong. With Christ nothing is impossible. Let them think again, and change their minds. Let them begin boldly in the strength of Christ, and trust Him for the consequences. The Lord Jesus never changes. He who enabled “many women” to serve Him faithfully while He was on earth, can enable women to serve Him, glorify Him and be His disciples at the present day.”
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Volume Two, Luke (Michigan:Baker Book House, 2007) 244-246.