redemption
i have been thinking a lot about Joshua 2 this week...
which has led me to think a lot about the incredible God we serve.
why is He so great? well, i'll tell you:
if you don't remember Joshua 2, the story is this:
God chose to do an amazing work through a woman named Rahab.
why is that a big deal?
well, she was a prostitute.
He chose to work through her and she, no doubt,
experienced the Lord's grace and mercy in a profound way.
fast-forward a few years.
Rahab has a son named Boaz. if any of you have read the book
of Ruth, Boaz plays a pretty huge role. some have said that he is
the greatest example of grace and mercy in the old testament and
is the biggest precursor of the grace and mercy that would come in
the form of Jesus, all those years later.
so, where did Boaz learn to be this merciful?
probably from his mom.
you know, the prostitute.
not only that...but, remember David? the shepherd boy who killed
the giant and became a great king after God's own heart? well, he
is a descendent of Rahab and Boaz.
oh, and guess who else descended from Rahab?
yup. Jesus Christ, Himself.
pretty incredible lineage.
so, why is my God so amazing?
my God is amazing because He would rather change the world through a humble prostitute or a shepherd boy than through haughty religious people.
that is a God who i would follow to the ends of the earth and back...
that is a God who i am overwhelmed to be loved by...
and that is extremely humbling.
i would rather be a prostitute than a pharisee,
if it means that i will experience more of my Jesus.
posted by Tara Bussema @ 10:12 PM
10 comments:
What a great lesson to learn. The Bible is full of stories like that. There is Rahab, of course. There's the prostitute that anoints Jesus' feet then washes them with her tears. There's the criminal on the cross near Jesus who says, "Lord, remember me in heaven." And Jesus says, "You bet I will."
And there's my life. Where would I be without God's mercy and redemptive love?
There's a song I like by The Violet Burning called "Song of the Harlot." It talks a little about the prostitute who anoints Jesus' feet, then he compares his own life, saying how often he's loved the world and "been the whore." At the end, he says, "But if I could be anyone at all, I'd be the whore at your feet." I thought of that when I read your last sentence. The whole prostitute or pharisee story, or even the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9), are so good because it helps to see that one person is no better than the other. The pharisee, who keeps up the clean image, is still a sinner just like the prostitute or tax collector. The only difference is he's too proud to admit it and therefore too proud to receive forgiveness.
you are so very right, my friend, and you speak much truth.
there is also some song by derek webb about the church and the premise is very similar to that VB song.
now if we can just fight the tide of the american church turning into the pharisee...or...you know...move somewhere. ;)
You and I can totally take on the tide of the American Church.
heck yes. we're so on it. :)
move.
move? what? where?
you wrote : "now if we can just fight the tide of the american church turning into the pharisee...or...you know...move somewhere"
So I said "move". It feels good to move. And sometimes, its needed. That's all. I am gonna call you soon.
oh...haha...that "move" part was an inside joke with steve because we always joke about just moving to some island to get away from everyone. :)
but yeah...i would love to move. as long as it's because God tells me to and not because i'm running away!
love you and yes! call me soon! :)
We shall start posting again!
seriously...i need to. i just haven't been inspired lately. ;)
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