8 “Before the spies lay down for the night,
she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know
that the Lord has given you this land and that a great
fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who
live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon
and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely
destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our
hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above
and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear
to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I
have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the
lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to
them—and that you will save us from death.” Joshua 2: 8-13
Blessed to attend a Christian Women’s retreat on
Saturday that included these verses, I pass them on to you. In the Old Testament,
we learn how Joshua sent spies to Rahab the prostitute in Jericho before he and
his army marched around and attacked the city. Notice in vs 10 Rahab acknowledged
the God of the Israelites in whom she had not believed and chose to put her trust
in Him. Though she was a sinner, a prostitute, she went down in history, not as
a prostitute, but as a person of faith. Honored for her belief in God, she became
the mother of Boaz (the husband of Ruth), the g-grandmother of King David, and the
25th g-grandmother of Jesus Christ – if I counted correctly. You can
read Matthew 1 and count the generations back to Rahab yourself. It was for
Rahab’s FAITH – not her sins – that the Lord blessed her.
We too can be forgiven of our past sins if we have
faith in the Lord God who forgives. Dear ones do not carry the burdens of the past
on your shoulders for an eternity. Eternity belongs to God and the beginning steps
we take here on earth are His as well. Hand your past to the Lord God and He
will bless you with a life of Love and forgiveness because of your faith. Let
us pray:
“Dear Lord God, you are the Lord of all, the one who
gives Life and saves our lives from our past mistakes. Holy, holy, holy are
you, dear Lord. May your kingdom of Love come and make its home in my life as
the angels in Heaven now enjoy. For today, I ask that you forgive the mistakes
in my past. I speak their names now so that you may hear the desire of my heart
and set me free from their clutches. (List them by name) Forgive me for
these mistakes and for having carried them so long without asking you for their
release. I pray to have your love within me that I might forgive those who have
sinned against me. May I not be tempted to blame them for their misdeeds while
I ignore my own sins. Let me shower the world around me with your love, so that
others may feel free to seek your forgiveness as well. In the name of your son,
my redeemer and Lord I pray. Amen”
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you
mine.”
Copyright 2016 Doris Gaines Rapp
Watch for the 3rd in my Length of Days
trilogy - available in April. Length of Days – Search for Freedom
