August 26th, 2024
Since we are just a few weeks away from the Women’s Conference I thought I would take this opportunity to talk about one of my favorite comeback stories that involves a very important woman of the Bible. In Hebrews 11 it talks about faith in action. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Following this verse there is a list of men that are commended for their faith. All of these people were still living by faith when they died, as it is stated in Hebrews 11:13.
Abel for bringing God a better offering than Cain. Enoch was taken from this life without experiencing death because of his faith. Noah had faith and built an ark when he was warned about things that had not been seen. By faith Abraham, when he was called to a place where he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went; Abraham also by faith offered Isaac as a sacrifice, his one and only son. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. Jacob then, by faith, blessed each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying, he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Then when Joseph was dying he spoke by faith about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Moses' parents, by faith, hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw no ordinary child and they were not afraid of the king. Moses when he grew up refused to be known as the son of pharaoh's daughter and chose to be mistreated along with the people of God, by faith he left Egypt, kept the Passover and application of blood so that the firstborn of Israel would not be touched, and by faith the people passed through the Red Sea on dry land. By faith the walls of Jericho fell.
Then in Hebrews 11:31 it says, “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” She is one of two women commended for their faith in Hebrews 11. This is where we are going to hang out. Rahab did not obey because she was an especially godly woman, she was actually far from it. The book of Joshua tells us that she was a prostitute, but despite her moral failures she recognized the power of God. When Joshua’s two spies were in need of hiding, Rahab sensed that they were men of God, and though she barely knew this God, she put her faith in Him and betrayed her own king.
A single act of courage catapulted an enormous leap of faith that completely changed the future for Rahab and her family. Though she had only heard about the power and goodness of God, she recognized what He was doing. This step of faith saved her and her family and she went on to become part of the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-6). What an incredible honor God bestowed upon someone with such a sinful past. Just as God did an amazing work through Rahab, He delights in using women from all different backgrounds and with different testimonies to tell His amazing story of redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” We don’t need to be the “perfect Christian” for God to call us to action. I am so thankful that God doesn’t wait for us to get it all together in order to weave us into His plan of redemption. If this was the case I would be in trouble.
Maybe God has given you a dream or a calling for your life and you are not taking the next step because of critical voices that say you cannot be used by God because of your past or where you come from. These voices are not from the Lord. Let us stand together against this spirit of condemnation! Our courage doesn’t come because we believe we are strong, but because we know God is and we know that He can do anything! Whatever God has called you to, He will equip you for that work. Let us activate our faith in action and follow God wherever He is leading us!
Abel for bringing God a better offering than Cain. Enoch was taken from this life without experiencing death because of his faith. Noah had faith and built an ark when he was warned about things that had not been seen. By faith Abraham, when he was called to a place where he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went; Abraham also by faith offered Isaac as a sacrifice, his one and only son. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. Jacob then, by faith, blessed each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying, he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Then when Joseph was dying he spoke by faith about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Moses' parents, by faith, hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw no ordinary child and they were not afraid of the king. Moses when he grew up refused to be known as the son of pharaoh's daughter and chose to be mistreated along with the people of God, by faith he left Egypt, kept the Passover and application of blood so that the firstborn of Israel would not be touched, and by faith the people passed through the Red Sea on dry land. By faith the walls of Jericho fell.
Then in Hebrews 11:31 it says, “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” She is one of two women commended for their faith in Hebrews 11. This is where we are going to hang out. Rahab did not obey because she was an especially godly woman, she was actually far from it. The book of Joshua tells us that she was a prostitute, but despite her moral failures she recognized the power of God. When Joshua’s two spies were in need of hiding, Rahab sensed that they were men of God, and though she barely knew this God, she put her faith in Him and betrayed her own king.
A single act of courage catapulted an enormous leap of faith that completely changed the future for Rahab and her family. Though she had only heard about the power and goodness of God, she recognized what He was doing. This step of faith saved her and her family and she went on to become part of the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-6). What an incredible honor God bestowed upon someone with such a sinful past. Just as God did an amazing work through Rahab, He delights in using women from all different backgrounds and with different testimonies to tell His amazing story of redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” We don’t need to be the “perfect Christian” for God to call us to action. I am so thankful that God doesn’t wait for us to get it all together in order to weave us into His plan of redemption. If this was the case I would be in trouble.
Maybe God has given you a dream or a calling for your life and you are not taking the next step because of critical voices that say you cannot be used by God because of your past or where you come from. These voices are not from the Lord. Let us stand together against this spirit of condemnation! Our courage doesn’t come because we believe we are strong, but because we know God is and we know that He can do anything! Whatever God has called you to, He will equip you for that work. Let us activate our faith in action and follow God wherever He is leading us!
1 Comment
💜 thank you Kara