"And Joshua the son of Nun sent of out Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.'' Joshua 2:1.
Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to investigate the military strength of Jericho. The spies stayed at Rahab's house. The soldiers, sent to capture the spies, asked Rahab to bring out the spies. Instead, she hid them on the roof, under bundles of flax. It was the time of barley harvest, and flax and barley are ripe at the same time.
Rahab's occupation was a harlot, but yet God used someone with a disgraceful background and a demonstrative belief. She displayed a banner, a scarlet cord, which represented the blood of Christ. She carried a determined burden and was given a divine blessing. This lesson teaches us that sin is sin and God can use anyone. Will you allow God to use you?
Rahab was considered a wicked sinner; her racial origin was a Gentile. Her occupation was a harlot. This is not a person who one envisions as a regular church member. When she heard about God, she had a humble request, "Save me.'' God can take a hardened heart and melt it. God can convict. Grace is prevalent for one who has nothing. She became a believer.
James 2:18 states: "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." The spies promised to spare Rahab and her family after taking the city, even if there should be a massacre, if she would mark her house by hanging a red cord out the window. This scarlet cord represented the blood of Jesus Christ. What cord do you display to show people you are a representative of Christ?
"And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.''
Rahab, loved her family dearly. She invited them to "come to the house" knowing what was going to happen. She wanted her relatives to have God's protection as well. Who have you invited to "come to the house of the Lord?'' Heaven will not be the same without the ones who need it. Heaven will not be the same without our loves ones. Are your loved ones saved? Are you? Do you have a burden for your family such as Rahab did? Matthew 7:13-14 tells us, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few that find it."
The wall of Jericho was torn down. A former harlot, who was a Gentile, was given a safe escort out of the city. Just as Rahab the Christian must have Christ to be a Christian and a millionaire has to have a million dollars to be a millionaire. Do you have a burden for those you love to be saved?
Nursing Home Ministry meets at McDonald County Living Center in Anderson at 2:30 p.m., every other Saturday. WMU meeting is the second Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.
Have you read your Bible today? If not, read Psalm 133:3.
Since school is dismissed for the summer, we will be having special events for the children throughout the summer.
If you have no home church of your own, we would love for you to join us at First Baptist Church, east of the Museum Square in Pineville. Just behind the US Bank. No friendlier, down-home church can be found in the four state area. Please check out our FBCP Teen Group Facebook Page.
All Bible Verses are from the KJV, The King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Religion on 07/27/2017