Women Serving Jesus in the Midst of Everyday Life
Women Serving Jesus in the Midst of Everyday Life
When we think of serving Jesus, it’s easy to picture grand acts of sacrifice, public ministry, or leaving everything behind to follow Him across the countryside like the disciples did during Jesus’ ministry. While there are powerful stories of those who traveled with Jesus, woven throughout the Gospels are beautiful accounts of women who served Jesus wholeheartedly, right in the midst of their everyday lives. Their faithful examples remind us that devotion to Christ isn’t limited to the stage or the mission field; it flourishes in kitchens, laundry rooms, workplaces, and everyday moments surrendered to Him.
Mary and Martha of Bethany
One of the most well-known examples is Martha of Bethany. When Jesus visited her town, Martha welcomed Him into her home. She busied herself with the many tasks of hosting, including preparing food, serving, and ensuring her guests were comfortable. While Martha is often remembered for her worry and distraction, we shouldn’t overlook her heart of service. She used her home, her resources, and her practical gifts to care for Jesus and those traveling with Him.
Her sister Mary also served Jesus, but in a different way. She chose to sit at His feet, listening intently to His words. In a culture where women were not usually invited to learn alongside men, Mary boldly gave her full attention to the Teacher she knew was the Messiah. While Martha served with her hands, Mary served with her heart, offering her presence and devotion. Both women loved Jesus deeply and demonstrated that there is no single way to honor Him in the midst of our daily duties.
Joanna and Susanna
Then there’s the story of Joanna and Susanna, women mentioned in Luke 8:1-3. These women, along with Mary Magdalene, traveled with Jesus and His disciples, supporting them with their own resources. They used what they had—money, supplies, hospitality—to support Jesus’ ministry. They didn’t preach to crowds, but their behind-the-scenes support sustained the work of the gospel.
Jesus welcomed the service of women not only in temples or synagogues but also in homes, around dinner tables, and in the quiet moments of everyday life. He still does.
So, how does this relate to us today?
Today, life can feel overwhelmingly busy, as we juggle jobs, parenting, relationships, church commitments, and personal goals. Sometimes we think serving Jesus must mean adding more to our already packed schedules. But Jesus invites us to serve Him in and through what we are already doing—if we shift our perspective and invite Him into our moments.
Imagine Sarah, a wife, mother of three, and full-time nurse. Her days are busy from morning to night, with tasks like packing lunches, caring for patients, helping with homework, and folding endless loads of laundry. Some days, she questions if she’s doing enough for God. But then she remembers that serving Jesus doesn’t need a special platform—it just requires her heart.
So, on her drive to work, she prays for her patients and coworkers by name. At lunch, she sends an encouraging text to a friend. While doing the dishes, she worships quietly, thanking God for her family. At bedtime, she reads a Bible story to her kids and whispers prayers over them as they drift off to sleep. Her life isn’t picture-perfect, but it’s poured out daily as an offering to Jesus.
Like Martha, Sarah uses her hands to care for others. Like Mary, she takes time to sit at the feet of Jesus, even if it’s just for a few minutes each morning. Like Joanna and Susanna, she invests her resources—time, compassion, and income—to bless others and support her local church.
Embodying the Hands and Feet of Jesus
You don’t need to do something grand to serve Jesus well. He takes joy in the humble, unseen ways you love others in His name. A cup of coffee shared with a hurting friend, a meal dropped off to a new mom, a note of encouragement left on a coworker’s desk—these everyday acts, embodying the feet and hands of Jesus, become sacred service.
Sisters, don’t underestimate the power of your daily life lived in devotion to Christ. He sees every meal you prepare, every bedtime prayer whispered, and every burden you carry for your loved ones. When you invite Him into your routine, your ordinary life becomes an extraordinary place for His presence to dwell and work through you.
Let’s be women who serve Jesus faithfully in the midst of everyday life—right where we are, with what we have, trusting that nothing done in His name is ever wasted. May our homes, workplaces, and relationships reflect the same faithfulness and love that the women who walked with Jesus centuries ago demonstrated.
A Prayer for You
Lord Jesus, thank You for the faithful women in Scripture who show us that serving You happens right in the midst of everyday life. Help us to see each task, conversation, and moment as an opportunity to honor You. Teach us to pause and sit at Your feet like Mary, to serve joyfully like Martha, and to give generously like Joanna and Susanna. May our daily routines be filled with Your presence, and may our hearts remain devoted to You above all else. Use our ordinary moments for Your extraordinary glory. In Your precious name, Amen.
What simple ways can you invite Jesus into your daily tasks this week so that your ordinary moments become offerings of love and service to Him?
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