Dare to Be a Joanna and a Susanna

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Today's Text: Luke 8:1–3; Luke 24:1–12

Key Verse: Luke 8:3 (KJV) — “And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”

After several weeks of character studies from the Old Testament, we are blessed to come to New Testament examples from today. While Jesus waw preaching in cities and villages, healing the sick, casting out demons, and training the Twelve, there were women who carried the work of the Kingdom on their shoulders in a quieter but indispensable way. Joanna, the wife of a civil servant, Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna both of whom travelled with Jesus and His disciples, ministering to Him out of their own substance. They did not merely applaud the ministry from a distance; they invested their resources in it. Dare to be a Joanna and a Susanna: dare to turn what God has placed in your hands into a vessel for the advance of His Kingdom, and to serve the Gospel not only with your voice but with your substance.

Joanna’s position was remarkable. Her husband served in the household of Herod, the ruler whose court represented political power and worldly influence. Yet Joanna chose to align herself with Jesus, the itinerant Preacher of the Kingdom of God. She brought her influence, resources, and personal devotion into a ministry that many in high places either ignored or opposed. Her support was not an afterthought; it was a deliberate act of discipleship. Dare to be a Joanna: dare to use your access, position, and provision for the purposes of God, and to let your connection to earthly influence become a channel through which heavenly work is sustained.

Susanna teaches us that faithfulness does not require fame. Scripture mentions her only once by name, yet Heaven preserved her name because she ministered to Jesus of her substance. She was among the women who had received healing and deliverance, and she responded by following Christ and supporting His mission. Her life reminds us that no contribution made in love is insignificant when it is placed in the Master’s hands. Dare to be a Susanna: dare to give faithfully even when no pulpit announces your name, to serve where God has placed you, and to believe that hidden generosity can carry eternal weight.

Their giving was not charity without commitment. These women travelled with Jesus and the disciples, sharing the inconveniences of the road, the pressure of opposition, and the uncertainty of a ministry that had no earthly palace or treasury. They gave their money, but they also gave their presence, their time, and their loyalty. When the crucifixion scattered many, they remained close enough to prepare spices for His burial; when the tomb was found empty, Joanna was among the first witnesses sent to tell the apostles that Christ had risen (Luke 24:10). Dare to be a Joanna and a Susanna: dare to remain with Christ when following Him becomes costly, and to let your giving be joined with devotion, endurance, and personal witness.

God is still advancing His Kingdom through people who understand that ministry requires more than preachers. It requires intercessors, encouragers, hosts, givers, workers, and faithful supporters who supply what the work needs without demanding recognition. Your income, influence, skills, home, time, and connections can become seed for souls, strength for servants, and provision for the Gospel. Dare to be a Joanna and a Susanna: dare to fund what God is doing, to stand with those who carry the burden of ministry, and to let your resources become a testimony that Christ is worth everything you possess.

Action Steps: Identify one ministry, missionary, family in need, church project, or Kingdom assignment you can support consistently this month. Give something specific from your substance — money, food, transportation, professional skill, accommodation, or time. Encourage a minister or worker who serves faithfully behind the scenes. Examine whether your resources currently reflect your devotion to Christ, and take one practical step to make your giving an act of worship. Ask God to make your support a seed that produces salvation, healing, and deliverance in places you may never visit.

Quote for the Day: “When believers turn their substance into seed for the Kingdom, hidden hands become visible partners in God’s eternal work.” — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequotes)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, like Joanna and Susanna, I choose to minister to You out of my substance. Deliver me from selfishness, fear, and the desire for recognition. Teach me to honour You with my resources, to support the work of Your Kingdom faithfully, and to stand with those You have called to preach, heal, and serve. Make my giving fruitful, my devotion enduring, and my life a channel of provision for Your purposes. Let my hidden sacrifices bear eternal fruit in my family, church, community, and generation — in Jesus’ most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: Luke 8:1–3; Luke 24:1–12; Matthew 6:19–21; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; Philippians 4:15–18; Galatians 6:6–10; Proverbs 3:9–10.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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