God’s Joyful Invitation to Women: Known, Named, and Called (Part 3 of 3 of the "God Sees Her" series)

God does not hold women at arm’s length in His story—He draws them close, calls them by name, and writes them into the tapestry of redemption with unmistakable grace. His invitation is not secondhand or symbolic. It is personal, joyful, and real.

He Named Her Sarah

Imagine the moment. The Lord—who had just renamed Abram—now turns His attention to Sarai. And though He speaks to Abraham, His words carry the weight of covenant as He says:

“As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, 

but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her…”—Genesis 17:15–16

God Himself gave her a new name--to declare her place in His promise: Sarah. Princess. A woman marked by divine purpose.

Her story wasn’t rewritten when Isaac was born. It was redefined when God spoke. Before the laughter of a child filled her tent, the Word of the Lord had already filled her life with meaning. Her waiting didn’t disqualify her. Her barrenness didn’t define her. Her identity was shaped by the One who names.

She Chose the Better Part. The clatter of dishes and the hum of service filled the home in Bethany, but near Jesus sat Mary—still, attentive.

Martha moved with sincere care, tending to guests, pouring out effort--but also carrying a weight that grew heavy with each step. When she finally voiced her frustration, Jesus turned and spoke:

"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which

shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42).

He saw her. He called her name—twice. Gently. Personally. And then He pointed her to what mattered most. 

Mary’s posture wasn’t passive—it was meaningful. She had chosen the Word over the work, the better part over the burden and pressure of the moment. And Jesus affirmed her choice not as momentary, but eternal. What she received at His feet would never be taken away.

And that same invitation echoes today.

Grace Has Always Made Room

Trace your finger through the pages of Scripture, and you’ll find more than a record of ancient events—you’ll find the heart of God reaching into time and space, intersecting with the lives of women in unforgettable ways. These moments are not incidental. They are sacred.

In His mercy, God chose to reveal His character through these encounters. Each one offers a glimpse into the tenderness, attentiveness, and covenant love of the Lord. He cares deeply for women. He delights to draw them near—to call them into relationship with Himself.

Through the person of Christ and the pages of His eternal Word, God has made His heart unmistakably clear: You, my Christian friend, matter to Him.

• Hagar wandered alone in the wilderness—but God saw her. The first person in Scripture to name God, she gave Him this title: Thou God seest me. He met her in her need and called her by name (Genesis 16:13).

• Rebekah inquired of the Lord—and He heard her. Yes, the Almighty responded directly to her cry! She received a personal answer from the God Who listens when women pray (Genesis 25:22–23).

• Leah, aching from rejection, lifted her heart—and found joy in the Lord. In her sorrow, she praised: Now will I praise the LORD. Her worship rose from a heart seen and loved by God (Genesis 29:35).

• Rachel was remembered by God. He did not forget her longing. At just the right moment, He opened her womb and turned her waiting into rejoicing (Genesis 30:22).

• Sarah was renamed by God Himself. Her laughter—once born of doubt—became laughter born of delight in the faithfulness of the Lord who keeps His promises.

• Mary of Bethany sat quietly at Jesus’ feet, her soul open to His words—and He rejoiced in her choice. He welcomed her worship, her listening heart, her desire for more of Him.

• The Samaritan woman, weary and searching, encountered Jesus at a well—and was transformed. She left her waterpot behind and became one of the first bold proclaimers of Christ as Messiah.

In every story, grace is not withheld. It is poured out—freely, personally, abundantly. These women were recipients of God’s intentional love and vessels through whom His glory was displayed!

And today, that same grace is alive in your story.

Let your heart rejoice in this God who met Hagar, who remembered Rachel, who taught Mary and Martha. His love has not changed. His invitation still stands.

A Shared Invitation: Seek Him and Behold His Glory

That call still resounds across the pages of Scripture: Come. Seek. Behold.  This is the heart of a Father who delights to be known—who throws open the doors of His presence and invites His own to draw near.

Jesus declared in Matthew 6:33,

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

That small word ye is plural--and women are clearly included.

This is the joy of God’s heart: He welcomes women to know Him, to seek Him, to live in His presence. He doesn’t hold back access. He doesn’t require permission slips. The call is clear. The way is open.

You are not left outside the sanctuary—you are brought into the holy place through Christ. You are not waiting for the veil to lift—it has already been torn. You are not hoping for welcome—you already have it.

So come boldly. Come joyfully. Come often. The God who spoke to Hagar, Rebekah, and Mary still calls today.

Paul echoes this same openhearted invitation in 2 Corinthians 3:18:

“But we all… beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory…”

We all. That includes you.

You are a welcomed guest, invited to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and be changed by it.

To behold His glory is not some mystical privilege for a select few. Rather, it is the daily delight of those who belong to Him. In Christ, you are no longer separated, no longer distant. You have been brought near.

And as you behold Him—through His Word—His Spirit transforms you. He changes you from glory to glory.

This is a miracle of grace: the God of majesty invites you to draw near and be made more like Him.

So come. Open His Word and sit still with truth. Let His promises settle into your soul.

You are called—by name.

And what He gives you—Himself—will not be taken away.