DO YOU THINK THAT GOD JUST BLESSES WOMEN?

“O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing! He forgives your sins—every one. He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.” (Psalm 103: 1-5 The Message Bible)

When you show up for Sunday worship service this morning, take a look around your sanctuary and look at what we will refer to as a gender gap; referring to the number of women present verses the number of men. After taking a look, ask yourself some questions, “Does God just bless women?” “Are women the only one who can bless the Lord from head to toe?” “Are women the only one who can find good reasons, perfect reasons actually, to bless the Lord today in the presence of the saints?”

Then, when you get home, if there are any men in the house who did not attend service today, ask then the question in the title above, “Do you think that God only blesses women?”  Before any of the men or the man can open their mouths and defend why they don’t attend or before they try to extend the conversation with a plethora of excuses, say “Wait a minute!” Then proceed to tell them, “I think you have forgotten every single blessing that the Lord has bestowed on you!”

And notice for every excuse that might still follow, you don’t have to be argumentative, just say, “Look at Jesus.”

For instance, when they say, “I’ve been through a lot this week,” respond by saying, “You are not by yourself. For example, here is the epitome of going through a hard week. During what we refer to as the Passion Week, Jesus went through a lot. After He entered Jerusalem with praise, pretty quickly he had to endure beatings and sufferings; had to  stay awake all night, had to go through trial after trial; had to be tried unfairly and experienced being judges unjustly, and then He died on the cross, not just for women, but to bless men with a way to gain eternal life too.” Continue, “Jesus had a hard week too! But He still met the expectations of the Father”

When the men or the man tries to leave you standing, politely ask them, “May I say one more thing?” When he or they reluctantly respond, “Go ahead,” then you finish up bey saying, “God has expectations for you too. One of them is not to forsake the assembly of the saints.”

That will probably be the end of the conversation, but if the men or the man says, “Tell me more,” share the following facts and then after every fact ask, “Do you think God just blesses women?”

• Christianity is short on men. Do you think that God just blesses women?
• The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. Do you think that God just blesses women?
• On any given Sunday there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s churches. Do you think that God just blesses women?
• This Sunday almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands. Do you think that God just blesses women?
• Midweek Bible Studies or service often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants. Do you think that God just blesses women?
• Churches overseas report gender gaps of up to 9 women for every 1 adult male in attendance. Do you think that God just blesses women? 

Now, if having such a dialogue seem to be an approach you view as confrontational, print a copy of this meditation, fold it up, and write “Confidential” on it. I promise you that curious minds, even the men or the man in the house will read it. Another approach will be to simply share this meditation with others, without any length message that might seem like a lecture. Just type on the subject line, “A Must Read!”

Have a great day in worship and in doing the work above, work that is part of personal evangelism and shows obedience to the Great Commission below. Be blessed!

^“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 New King James Version)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King