DAY 101
Pastor Marcus Brown
Scripture: James 2, Joshua 2; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Main Verse: “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Today, Pastor Marcus walks us through a story that we rarely associate with the Christmas season. The main character, Rahab, is talked about throughout Scripture as “Rahab the Harlot.” Could you imagine your past being attached to your name? But God did this on purpose, to show us that no matter what your past is, God can still do something amazing and redemptive in your life.
In Joshua 2, the children of Israel send spies to scout out the land. In Jericho, Rahab has a brothel in the wall of the city. In an extreme act of faith, she hides these spies there and her life is spared. She then goes from being a pagan prostitute in Joshua 2 to being listed in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, becoming someone whose very life was an illustration of what real faith looks like.
When the city of Jericho is destroyed, Rahab has no place to go, so she leaves with the Israelites. Somewhere along the way, she meets Salmon. He doesn’t care about her past, and they get married and birth a city by the name of Bethlehem. It is here they become the ancestors of the Messiah, Jesus, who is born centuries later in a cave here.
Just as Jesus is not ashamed of the prostitute in His family tree, He’s not ashamed of you, either! He’s not worried about your past, because He knows how to redeem it. There’s hope for you, and there’s hope for your future.
Question: If your name represented your past, what would it be? Who does God say you are?
Family Chat: Talk about what your name would be if you were known by the worst thing you ever did or your most embarrassing behavior. (Examples: Tyler the Terrified, Bridget the Bully, or Rachael the Reckless)
Take Action: Have a conversation similar to today's Family Chat with your friends. Who would you say you are, based on your character traits? Who does God say that you are? Do you believe Him?
Additional Resources: