Day 4 – The Mission Continues: Women Who Kept the Fire Burning | Keeping the Mission Alive: God’s Call for Men to Rise and Women to Keep Standing

We all know, accept, believe, and are grateful for the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. That’s redemption.

However, we sometimes forget that the story of redemption didn’t stop at the cross. It continued through those who refused to let the fire go out. 

Throughout history, God has used women to keep His mission alive - women who stayed when others scattered, women who prayed when others gave up, and women who served when no one was watching.

Luke 8:1–3 NKJV introduces us to such women: “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.”

These women financed, followed, and fueled the ministry of Jesus. They weren’t apostles by title, but they were disciples by heart. 

When the twelve scattered at the cross, these same women remained, showing that love doesn’t retreat when things get hard—it endures. That’s a word!

In John 20:11-18 NKJV, after the crucifixion, we find Mary Magdalene standing outside the tomb, weeping. 

When Jesus appeared to her, she didn’t even recognize Him at first. But when He called her by name—“Mary”—everything changed.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord.”

The first person to proclaim the resurrection was a woman. The same Mary who once lived in torment became the first herald of hope. God entrusted the message of life to the one who stayed when others left.

Then in Acts 16:13-15 NKJV, we meet Lydia, a businesswoman in Philippi: “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ So she persuaded us.”

Lydia’s conversion marked the beginning of the church in Philippi. Her faith didn’t just receive the gospel; it made room for it. Lydia used her home, her influence, and her resources to establish one of the most faithful churches in the New Testament - The Church at Philippi.

From Mary to Lydia, one truth remains: God honours consistency. These women kept the fire burning through prayer, generousity, and faithfulness. They didn’t wait for perfect conditions, they didn’t wait for the men who were not forthcoming, they stayed lit in the dark.

And no blame is being implied here. We are just emphasizing the women’s steadfast faithfulness.

We see the same pattern today. 

In many churches, when men grow weary or distracted, or disappear, it’s often women who keep ministries alive: leading prayer, mentoring youth, giving faithfully, and holding families together. 

Again, this isn’t to shame anyone; it’s to show how God rewards endurance.

Faithfulness is fuel. When others step back, those who keep showing up carry the flame forward. God’s mission doesn’t depend on talent or title, and I am so glad about that. God’s mission thrives on commitment and dedication to duty.

So today, if you’ve been standing, praying, or serving and wondering if it matters—yes, it does. God sees every act of obedience. 

Like Mary, we might not recognize what God is doing right away, but He’s using our faithfulness to announce resurrection life. 

Like Lydia, He may be using our open heart and home to build something that outlives us. Many times we hear about the good people have done after they are dead and gone. Their legacy lives on.

The mission will continue because we didn’t quit. The fire burns because we refused to let it die.

We pray today that God will continue to strengthen every faithful heart—those who stay when others leave, those who give when others stop, those who believe when others doubt. 

Because through our steadfastness, men and women, the mission of God keeps burning bright.