By their fruits you will know them...

Week 2 of our backpacking adventure has us studying Joshua as he sends spies into Jericho to sniff out the situation. God seems to direct the secret agents directly to Rahab.

I would love to know how the fellas ended up in a prostitutes house. Makes me thort of thmell a rat. But I digress.

Rahab may have had a reputation as being a bad girl, but she had a heart of gold and just so happened to have a handy scarlet cord that would be a lifesaver to herself, her family, and the spies that she was playing host to.

Rahab had heard of God's deeds. She had heard about the whole parting of the Red Sea thing and believed. And she was ready to lay her very life on the line. She knew, by faith, that God could --and would-- save her. No matter her past. No matter her circumstances.

Not only that, but Sistah Rahab's faith earns her a place in the very genealogy of Jesus himself. That, my friend, is a God-thing.

God loves us, every one. We are so not worth it. We may not be living inside a city wall and we may never have need of a scarlet cord. But our lives and our testimonies are relevant. I may never save the lives of spies looking for information, but I may well be the one that shows my neighbor who Jesus is.

How important is it that I show the world Jesus? I tell my kids all the time that we have to give a good testimony. I remind them that if we call ourselves Christians, others will look at us and expect to see something different. Not different in a "Oh look at the Souths, what a bunch o' weirdos" kind of way, but in a "Wow, look at the South kids. They're pretty neat kids!" kind of way.

But it's not just the kids. It's me. If I gossip and complain, how does that bear fruit? If I lose my temper, who does that edify? If I'm a poor steward of my finances, what does that say? I *say* I have faith, but do I? Do my actions show that?

Rahab has so much to teach me.

I would like to think that if I were in the same position I would do exactly the same thing. But would I? C'mon, who am I kidding? Hide spies in flax on my roof while I lie to government officials about their whereabouts? I get all choked up when it's time to go to the DMV.

I am so not the girl Rahab was.

I can't say this about me, but I can say this about our gal Rahab. She totally exemplifies that great verse in Matthew:

"You can detect them by the way they act." Matt. 7:16 NLT or the NIV version: "By their fruit you will recognize them."

Rahab, you rock. I wanna be like you when I grow up.

Well, sort of like you. Wink, wink...

10 comments:

Gretchen said...

Loved every scrap of this, Jen. But, I happen to think you're just as cool as Rahab. There was only one Rahab bc there only had to be one Rahab. Though I don't for a moment dismiss her faith, nor do I want to dismiss yours. By your exhorting your kids to be Jesus in skin, you're showing what you're made of & who matters in your life. God knows Rahab (& Gretchen, & Jen) enough to know that He can bring forth a tree w/our mustard seed of faith.

His Girl said...

Totally choked on my water when I read the last line but COMPLETELY WORTH IT!
What a fantastic post, lady! I love every little bit... 'specially this:
We may not be living inside a city wall and we may never have need of a scarlet cord. But our lives and our testimonies are relevant. I may never save the lives of spies looking for information, but I may well be the one that shows my neighbor who Jesus is.

Unknown said...

I totally, totally loved this. So right on with how I felt. And even if it wasn't how I felt, it was still good junk. :)

Michelle said...

God is using you in His own way, just like He used Rahab so I would say you are like Rahab. Ok, not quite, but you get the point. Great post!

Stacey said...

Okay, Jenhab (minus the prostitute part)... you are already there cord aflapping! Such a beautiful (and funny) post.

Gretchen said...

"Sistah Rahab's faith earns her a place in the very genealogy of Jesus himself. "

Wow. Double wow. Can you imagine her surprise when she got to heaven and watched it on the big screen?!

Loved your post... nodded my head in agreement the whole way through!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing these, Jen! Good thoughts and you had me chuckling and winking right along with you!

Jenhab! (she said as she wiped the hot tea off her computer monitor)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the giggles and insights!! :)

Lisa Smith said...

Oh Jen, how you rock! I also found myself wanting to be a Rahab this week... well, almost! haha

Vindiciti said...

Love! Good stuff! -giggle-