We are in a 5 week study of Hope through the 5 women
listed in the genealogy of Jesus. This
week was the Hope through Rahab. But why
would Matthew list a lying prostitute in the genealogy of God the Son? There are several fascinating answers, but we
focused in on Hope. We have Hope that
God can use us despite of our past or present sin. We do not have to be held down by guilt and
lies. As Henry Blackaby said in The Man God Uses, “God doesn’t take you just
the way you are. He takes you in spite
of the way we are.”
The next time you feel like God can’t use You, consider this list that is accredited to John Thomas
Oakes;
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...
AND Lazarus was dead!
My challenge to you this week is to meditate on this question: What stands in the way of you letting God use you? The quick and correct answer is ME. But ask God the Spirit to reveal to you how. Identify the lies that you need to quit believing. Let go of the guilt you are holding on to. Ask God for forgiveness of the sin you are trying to hide.
Be
Intentional.
Travis
