Daily Scripture Reading: Joshua 1-4
Focal Passage: Joshua 2:8-11
Last Sunday, my pastor used the example of how kids are always given the rules about coloring their pictures. The teacher or parent tries to teach them about the necessity to stay inside the lines. Staying inside the lines creates a nice and neat picture and it also teaches to live within a box or boundary. The reality is that God doesn't always operate in our neat little boxes, and aren't we all glad! Most of life does not work out the way we intended or planned anyway. There are many examples in Scripture where God used people out of the ordinary to do His extraordinary work. I read about one such example this morning in Joshua 2.
Joshua sent spies into Jericho to check out the city so the people of God would be better informed as to what they were facing when they attacked the city. The woman that took these spies in was named Rahab, a known prostitute in the city. This known prostitute not only hides these two spies and keeps them safe from the king of Jericho, but she also helps them escape from the city. As incredible as those two things are, nothing compares to the declarative statement of faith in verses 8-11. Rahab knows God's people will have victory over the city of Jericho because they serve the one and only God. God uses this prostitute woman to affirm to these two spies who He is and what He is going to do. By the way Rahab is also mentioned in the great Hall of Faith chapter (Hebrews 11:31).
Coloring inside the lines may be what is often taught when learning to color, but it is not the way God operates. He uses people in all kinds of life circumstances to do His great work. Do you find yourself discouraged because your life has not been "colored inside the lines"? You did not always make the right choices or you have done things that you wish you could take back. I think we all have. Don't be discouraged! Take heart, God uses people that have lives "colored outside the lines". If God used Rahab, He can use any of us with the heart of faith to believe in Him, and the heart that wants to please Him. Take courage, seek God with your entire being, forget the past, and look forward to how God will use you to encourage others!
As always, feel free to add your own comments or observations...I'll be waiting to read from you!
Thx for your honest words of encouragement. I lenjoyed reading your posts- it was just like being back at RHBS bible class;) No seriously, we all need a reminder every once in a while to let the burdens if our past to stay at the foot of the cross.
ReplyDeleteWell, just call me Rahab because it seems like most of my life is colored outside the lines. I would rather have a pretty picture with borders that don't overlap with different colors. But, if all that were true, I wouldn't be where I am today - living in Arizona, with 3 awesome kids, a faithful husband, a perfectly healthy grandson...I could go on and on. I know every experience that would be considered coloring outside the lines in my life was God's way of reminding me who is in control of the crayon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith for that reminder. God is surely teaching us to color outside the lines when He has these 2 sun-loving Arizonans here in Canada doing things that we cannot accomplish on our own. God truly amazes us each day.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to see you and your family last week. We always appreciate the prayers of the people at Trinity. Carol and Gary
Thanks for the great comments you each added to this posting. Gary, I'm praying for you guys! Heidi, the comment about Bible class took me way back. Terri, I especially like the comment about your husband.
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