The truth of Rahab was not only was she brave... she was willing. I have times where I am brave and willing to risk but, those two attributes most of the time to do not align. I can talk a good game... and be brave and sometimes when faced with the put it in action (willingness)... I can shrink back into my hole (disobedience) with the best of them.
I love truth of Rahab... she was just enough. She was willing to help God -- be named an ally in a dark, destructive and sinful world despite she was unwelcomed and unworthy. So, as much as I admire Rahab's willingness and obedience... am I following the truth of the message of Rahab?
The following message as penned by author Jen Hatmaker is the calling of Rahab: Redemption is for everyone, not just those who seem unworthy. That often necessitates a period between debacuchery and libertation. Can you fathom how many live in that gap? Can you see how many souls are left on the proverbial salvation table when Christians won't stand by - much less love- another so broken?
Are we loving the broken? I know my agenda, tasks, need to be all I need to be for my own family handicaps my ability to stand by or love those who Jesus would have embraced.
Standing by, being willing and above all noticing the needs of others will bridge this gap between lost and salvation. Graciously, Jesus set that example... of course, our call is to faithful, willingly and obediently follow this example.
Simple gestures of kindness and care will demonstrate God's grace and execute Jesus's plan to stand by those in need. An example was shared in our church service today of meeting others needs, to me this was a brave Rahab woman, reaching across the gap to show genuine care.
A woman from my church was leaving a doctor's appointment and noticed a lady sobbing, running past her to leave the medical building. The church member, followed the lady to her car where the sobbing woman locked herself in her car. The lady from the church, convinced the woman to open her car door and pray with her. The sobbing woman had just learned she was diagnosed with cancer and swallowed a bottle of pain killers. The woman from the church convinced her to return to the medical building for help. The sobbing woman had recently lost her father to cancer and was overcome with hopelessness of her much too recent diagnosis. I don't know the end of the story, but I am confident the bridge has been constructed, a new friend made and God's love shared.
I have kept thinking, so, had our fellow brave God-loving woman decided to mind her own business and not be God's ally this day, a soul would be lost. How easy it would have been to just walk to our own car and whisper a short pray on behalf of the sobbing lady. But, brave action is required, God is calling us, just like Rahab, despite our unworthiness to get involved.
In our world, it is easy to slump behind the computer and communicate, drive into the garage and lock down the doors, walk into a grocery store and not talk to anyone. We could possibly go days without being involved with others with very little effort.
However, this is not our call as believer's in Jesus Christ. Jesus was interacting, meeting others needs. He was brave despite the rejection and gossip that surrounded his life. We also are required to walk boldly and bravely but, above all... be willing to act on the call of God's whispers when he commands to meet the unwelcomed and unworthy with his love, care and grace.
So, don't elevate yourself as a believer in Jesus Christ... know we are called to be in the trenches, to be his willing vessel to do his work in a dirty, complicated and idol-worshiping land.
Pray the obstacles that prevent you from being willing are crumbled, be aware of the broken in your daily life and seek opportunities to meet the needs of others and engage your world with God's love.
Working at being a brave and WILLING ally,
ElizaBeth
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