throughout_the_Bible_you_hear_all_of_these_stories._And_I_think_that.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: God Sees Potential Where Others See Shame

No one is defined by the worst thing they’ve done. Rahab’s life was marked by a reputation that would have excluded her from most circles, yet God looked beyond her past and saw a heart ready for faith. While people may label us by our failures or mistakes, God calls us by a new name and invites us into His story. His grace is not limited by our history; instead, He specializes in bringing beauty out of brokenness.
If you have ever felt disqualified or unworthy because of your past, remember that God’s love reaches into the darkest places. He sees your potential, not just your problems. In Christ, your story is not over, and your past does not have the final word. God delights in rewriting stories and using unlikely people for His purposes.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: What is one label or memory from your past that you feel still defines you? Ask God to help you see yourself through His eyes today and to begin to believe in the new name He gives you.

Day 2: Faith Begins Before the Evidence Appears

Rahab believed in the God of Israel before she ever saw Him act on her behalf. True faith is not waiting for proof or visible results, but trusting in God’s promises even when circumstances remain unchanged. Sometimes, God calls us to believe in the silence, to hold onto hope when all we have are stories of what He’s done for others.
Faith is choosing to trust God’s character and word, even when doubts and fears whisper otherwise. It is letting what you believe about God shape your choices, your words, and your attitude—before the miracle comes. This kind of faith pleases God and positions us to see His power in unexpected ways.

“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you waiting to see God move before you trust Him? What is one promise of God you can choose to believe today, even before you see it fulfilled?

Day 3: Faith That Moves Us to Risk and Obedience

Rahab’s faith was not just a private conviction; it moved her to action. She risked her safety and reputation to hide the spies and ask for salvation for her family. Real faith is visible in our choices and our willingness to step out, even when it costs us something.
Obedience is the evidence of genuine faith. Sometimes, God asks us to take steps that feel risky or uncomfortable, trusting that He will meet us in our obedience. When we act on what we believe, God’s power and provision often follow. Faith that moves is faith that grows.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.” (James 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a step of obedience or risk God is prompting you to take right now? What would it look like to act on your faith today, even if it feels uncomfortable?

Day 4: Redemption Rewrites Generations, Not Just Individuals

God’s grace in Rahab’s life didn’t stop with her; it extended to her family and changed her entire legacy. Redemption is not just about personal rescue, but about God rewriting the story for generations to come. When we allow God to transform us, He often uses our lives to break cycles, heal families, and set a new course for those who come after us.
Your decision to trust God and walk in His ways can have ripple effects far beyond what you see. God’s redemption is bigger than your story—it’s about what He wants to do through you for others. Let Him use your life as a testimony of hope and new beginnings.

“And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:17b-18, ESV)

Reflection: How might God want to use your story of redemption to impact your family or community? Who is one person you can encourage or pray for today, believing God can use your life to bless theirs?

Day 5: God’s Grace Reaches Deeper Than Our Brokenness

No matter how deep the shame, sin, or brokenness, God’s grace can reach further still. There is no situation too hopeless, no person too far gone for God to redeem. The blood of Jesus marks us, not our failures, and His grace is always pursuing us—ready to restore, renew, and give us a future filled with hope and purpose.
When you feel overwhelmed by your shortcomings or the weight of your past, remember that God’s grace is greater. He is not finished with you. His love is relentless, and His power to restore is limitless. Let His grace define you, not your failures.

“He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:2-3a, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel most hopeless or unworthy of God’s grace? Invite God to meet you there today, and ask Him to give you a new song of hope and restoration.

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

This sermon explored the story of Rahab, a woman with a complicated and shameful past who became a powerful example of faith and redemption. The message emphasized that God delights in using broken, unlikely people to accomplish His purposes, and that our past does not disqualify us from His grace. Rahab’s journey from the margins of society to the lineage of Jesus demonstrates that God can rewrite any story, no matter how hopeless it may seem. The sermon challenged listeners to believe in God’s promises even before seeing them fulfilled, to let faith move them to action, and to trust that God’s grace can restore and redefine their lives and legacies.

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Key Takeaways

1. God Sees Beyond Our Past: Rahab’s story reminds us that God is not limited by our history or reputation. While people may define us by our worst moments, God sees our potential and calls us by a new name. Our past may explain some of our struggles, but it does not define our future in Christ. The grace of God reaches into the darkest places and brings out beauty and purpose.
2. Faith Begins Before the Miracle: Rahab believed in the God of Israel before she ever saw His power firsthand. True faith is not waiting for proof, but moving forward on the basis of God’s promises. Sometimes, we are called to trust God in the silence, to believe for things we have only heard about, and to let that faith shape our choices and attitudes even when circumstances haven’t changed yet.
3. Faith Must Move Us to Action: Rahab’s faith was not passive; it compelled her to risk everything, hide the spies, and ask for salvation for herself and her family. Real faith is not just a feeling or an opinion—it is visible in our obedience and our willingness to step out, even when it costs us something. When we act on what we believe, God meets us with His power and provision.
4. Redemption Changes More Than Just Us: The grace that saved Rahab didn’t stop with her; it extended to her family and ultimately changed her entire legacy. God’s redemption is not just about personal rescue, but about rewriting the story for generations to come. When we allow God to transform us, He often uses our lives to break cycles, heal families, and set a new course for those who come after us.
5. God’s Grace Is Always Deeper: No matter how deep the shame, sin, or brokenness, God’s grace can reach further still. There is no situation too hopeless, no person too far gone for God to redeem. The blood of Jesus marks us, not our failures, and His grace is always pursuing us—ready to restore, renew, and give us a future filled with hope and purpose.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Rahab – Faith, Redemption, and God’s Grace**

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### Bible Reading

- **Joshua 2:1-21** (Rahab hides the spies and expresses her faith)
- **James 2:25-26** (“Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did…”)
- **Hebrews 11:31** (“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”)

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### Observation Questions

When the spies entered Jericho, what did Rahab do for them, and what risks did she take?
According to Rahab’s own words in Joshua 2:8-11, what had she heard about the God of Israel, and how did that affect her?
In James 2:25, what specific action is Rahab remembered for, and how does the passage describe her?
What visible sign did Rahab use to mark her house, and what did it represent in the story?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the Bible continues to refer to Rahab as “the prostitute” even after her act of faith? What does this say about how God views our past versus our faith?
Rahab believed in God’s power before she ever saw a miracle for herself. What does this teach about the nature of faith and how it begins?
The sermon said, “Faith believes before it sees and then acts before it understands.” How does Rahab’s story illustrate this truth?
Rahab’s faith led to the salvation of her family and changed her legacy. What does this suggest about the impact of one person’s faith on others?

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### Application Questions

The sermon said, “Your past may explain you, but it doesn’t define you.” Is there something in your past that you feel disqualifies you from being used by God? How does Rahab’s story challenge that belief?
Rahab acted on her faith even though it was risky and could have cost her everything. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is asking you to step out in faith, even if it’s uncomfortable or costly? What would it look like to take that step?
Rahab asked for salvation not just for herself, but for her whole family. Who in your family or close circle are you praying for? How can you be bold in asking God for their salvation or restoration?
The scarlet cord was a visible sign of Rahab’s faith and God’s promise. Are there any “visible signs” in your life that show others you belong to God? What could you do this week to make your faith more visible?
The sermon talked about God using broken, unlikely people to accomplish His purposes. Can you think of a time when God used your weakness or brokenness to help someone else? How did that experience change you?
Rahab’s story shows that God’s grace can reach into the darkest places. Is there a situation or relationship in your life that feels hopeless right now? How can you invite God’s grace into that area?
The message said, “When we allow God to transform us, He often uses our lives to break cycles, heal families, and set a new course for those who come after us.” What is one specific way you hope your faith will impact the next generation in your family or community?

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Sermon Quotes

Where others saw sin, God saw great potential. Where others saw a woman trapped in shame, God saw a heart ready to believe. God didn’t see Rahab as the world did—He saw someone He could redeem and restore.

Your past may explain you, but it doesn’t define you. We all have context for who we are, but your past does not determine your future. God can still use your story for something beautiful.

Hopeless beginnings are often where heaven’s best work is done. God doesn’t wait for us to clean up our lives before He calls us—He meets us right where we’re at, not where we should have been.

Faith doesn’t wait for proof; it moves on a promise. Rahab believed in God’s power before she ever saw His presence. Real faith trusts what you’ve heard about God, even when you haven’t seen it yet.

You don’t need to see a miracle to have faith. You need faith to see a miracle. Faith believes before it sees and then acts before it understands.

When everyone saw a prostitute, God saw a potential partner in His plan. God can take us from nothing and make us into something purposeful and beautiful.

Faith is risky and it will cost you something. Rahab risked everything for obedience, showing that real faith doesn’t sit still—real faith steps out.

The same woman who was once the city’s shame became her family’s salvation. When God rewrites your story, He doesn’t just save you—He changes your legacy.

God doesn’t just forgive, but He restores. He removes shame and condemnation, gives you your dignity back, and begins to do things in your life you thought you had forfeited.

There’s no sin so deep that God’s grace can’t reach deeper. No matter how far you feel you’ve gone, God’s grace can find you and give you a new beginning.

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