Dear COA Family,
This week’s devotion is a follow-up on the significance of the church season of Ordinary Time. Ordinary
Time is not ordinary, but it is significant and each day is a precious opportunity for us to walk in the power
of the Spirit!
Have you ever felt inadequate or unqualified for serving God?
Have you ever been plagued by the thought that due to your past you are not worthy to be used for
God’s purposes?
Look no further than the life example of Rahab (see Joshua 2).
Rahab not only was a citizen of the city of Jericho, a Gentile living in a pagan city, she was also a
woman by herself. There was no mention at all about a husband or any man in her life. Women in
ancient times were not accorded with recognition or rights. Most galling of all, she was a prostitute. The
Bible had no qualms in listing all of her imperfections. In many of our eyes today, she was as far from
being qualified to serve God’s purposes as possible.
Yet Scriptures not only did not condemn her, but spoke very highly of her! She was mentioned in three
separate occasions, which is no mean feat:
- The apostle James commended her for being brave in doing what was right: “In the same way,
was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to
the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” (James 2:25). - The writer of Hebrews commended her for her faith: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she
welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31). - Matthew the Gospel writer listed her as the ancestor of Jesus our Lord: “Salmon the father of
Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father
of Jesse” (Matthew 1:5).
And why was she commended so highly?
She simply took the step of faith when the chance arose to identify fully with God’s people rather than
her own. She acted with courage, decisiveness and fortitude when she had to hide the spies and lie to
the soldiers. She did not let the opportunity to help the spies escape slip but grasped it with both hands.
What can we learn from this?
Rahab, the most unqualified to serve God in many people’s perspectives, was elevated by God to be
one of the most prominent women of faith in the Scriptures. She was even granted the privilege not only
to be part of God’s people, to have a family but also became the great-great-great… grandmother of
Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world! God had transformed her shame and disgrace to honour and
praise.
Are you still feeling unqualified or inadequate due to your weaknesses or your past?
God, who set his favour on Rahab, can also equip and use you mightily by the power of His Holy Spirit.
You only need to lay aside every weight of shame and guilt and purpose to walk each day by faith in
concrete and practical ways. He will exchange your ashes for His beauty.
This is also the beauty of Ordinary Time. This season reminds us that everything is possible by the power
of the Holy Spirit who works in us and through us. Let us live each day with faith, being willing and
courageous to make full use of every opportunity that comes our way to glorify God!
God Bless,
Revd Ian