GetWisdom PaperturnSampler FINAL SinglePages - Flipbook - Page 19
Leading Wherever You Are
JOSHUA
“any thing accomplished.” When I look in my Greek lexicon, I also find that the term érgon can
be translated as a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).ii
Okay—so what’s the point? This verse is not implying that deeds (or works) are how we
become a Christian or that we get to heaven simply by being a good person. What it's explaining
is that if we love God, we'll want to do big things in His Name. Remember, the term can be
translated into a deed that’s carried out because of an inner desire or purpose. In other words,
works are an action put forth because of someone’s why (like we learned about yesterday).
Rahab put her life on the line for two men she didn’t even know, because her why was wrapped
up in knowing a God she’d only heard stories about. She knew there was more to the life she lived,
and she believed that the stories were true.
If Rahab acted out of faith in a God she had heard of and yet barely knew, how much more
should we as both leaders and Christ-followers act in faith to protect, encourage, and help others
know Him?
This leads us to something else we can learn from Rahab. Her faith in God moved her beyond
the incredible shame she could have felt over her lifestyle. Sometimes we hold onto our own shame
and guilt with such clenched fists that it spreads into many aspects of our life, including our
relationship with God. Too often we’re tempted to keep God at arm’s length because of our own
shame. One the thing I’ve realized through the years is this: God may have forgiven us, but
sometimes we need time to forgive ourselves so we may move forward.
Many years ago, I experienced something that I simply could not forgive myself for. I knew
God had forgiven me, yet what I had done was such a big deal to me that I determined I didn’t
deserve His forgiveness. I held on to a cruel amount of disgrace and contempt for myself because
of it. It took me a long time, but I eventually realized that when God says He forgives all things,
He truly means it. Nothing we can do is too much for Him to handle. Nothing we can do takes us
so far away from Him that He can’t pull us back.
Just because Rahab had previously sold her body for money didn’t mean that’s where her future
was headed. Rahab’s life was transformed because she believed. Her life was forever altered
because she acted in a bold and countercultural way. Like Joshua, she knew the truth and held
tightly to it.
Rahab likely didn’t view herself as a leader, and yet she acted as one. How did she act as an
audacious leader?
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