The Proud Prostitute

"If you will make time with God, your first priority, everything else will fall into place" (Joyce Meyer). But often, when we prioritize God,  it seems as if everything is falling out of place instead! So too with the story of Rahab...

Rahab was not only a harlot and a heathen; her name also meant 'proud'! 

Rahab most certainly did not make "the cut", yet what she did, did not make God love her less (or sympathize with her more). It was simply her faith- and ONLY her faith- that saved her. Faith is not subject to what you do; your personality nor your past. You might feel as if you are not "making the cut" but God is NOT a cookie cutter critic. God is NOT a respecter of man. Many have done great things but will one day stand empty handed before the throne. Instead, God rewards the seeds of faith given to you that you have nurtured into trees of life. He examines the heart and only that which is borne from faith will last (i.e. everlasting reward). 

The photos are from a recent ladies event to celebrate women's day.
Oogappel Kreatief sponsored some great goodies! Thank you 
Nick and Katie Hardy (in the image below, right) for encouraging us! 
They lead a church in Pinetown, South Africa- Red Point Church

What is faith? True faith is outward obedience and inward peace. "By faith, Rahab the prostitute, did not die with those who were disobedient..." Faith requires of us to hear God speak and to act on His Words.  Making the time to listen and hear God is very important.  And often, God's commands are very simple: Rahab was told to tie a scarlet thread to the window (and to wait). I can imagine that it was easy enough to obey... until the walls started crumbling. The noise must have been deafening! 

                          Yet, Rahab and her family           waited. 

Such inward peace comes from an unshakable (excuse the pun) conviction that God is in control.

Coincidentally, as we obey and trust God, He uses all of us- yes, even our shaky past and quirky personality- for His glory! Rahab became the mother of Boaz and perhaps it is not coincidence that Boaz was kind and compassionate to Ruth, who also a foreigner like his mother... 

Rahab the prostitute became a heroine of the faith through her act of obedience, grafted into the lineage of Christ regardless of what she had done, but rather because of who she trusted! Her story serves as an inspiration to us today.

Beautiful artwork by Marika Waterston was on display. Photos were taken courtesy of stigme photography- http://stigmephotography.co.za/

Heart 2 Heart Ladies Event | 8-9 August 2014 | Celebrating Women's Day

Jas 2:24-26  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.