James 2:25

New American Standard Version

 And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          Another illustration from our history is this one – Rahab the prostitute revealed that she had faith in God by what she did. She gave refuge to the messengers sent by Joshua and then sent them on their way in safety.

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          There is an old saying, “Its time to put up or shut up!”  It refers to situations in which words are no longer sufficient but actions that prove out one’s words are demanded.  It was exactly this kind of situation that faced a woman named Rahab, who seemed to be a very unlikely hero of faith but was willing to trust God and do what He asked of her despite the dangers involved.  If you’d like to check out the story, you can find it in Joshua, chapter two.

          My son Chris tells about when he was a college student at Baylor and went out on a date with a girl that he desperately wanted to impress.  Chris is a master with words.  It is a gift that God uses to make him a very effective preacher and teacher of the Scripture.  That is not the only time he uses his gift, however.  The boy could sell ice cubes to an Eskimo!  He has a silver tongue and I am sure that he was in rare form that night as he dated this young lady and sought to impress her.

          The date was going well and he asked her where she might like to go just for fun and she suggested they go bungee jumping.  What’s a proud young man to do?  Wimp out before the date even gets started well?  So, as you might expect, he pretended he was thrilled with the idea though he was terrified on the inside.  He may have even hinted he was a veteran bungee jumper. 

          They finally arrived at the place, he paid his fee, signed a liability release (that always makes you feel secure), and climbed atop the bungee tower.  They strapped on all of the belts and harnesses and gave him a helmet to wear (he was sure it was to keep his coconut from cracking on the ground below).  Then they walked him out to the edge of the platform and he looked down.  It looked like about two miles straight down!

          His golden words could not help him at that moment.  It was either chicken out and humiliate himself in front of the young lady or jump!  It was “put up or shut up” time!  To his credit, he closed his eyes and jumped!  I am glad to report that he survived with his dignity intact.  I don’t think he ever dated that young lady again.  He mentioned a comment she made concerning “sky diving” or something like that.

          It may not involve jumping off of a high platform attached to giant rubber bands but sometimes in our walk with the Lord, we come to “put up or shut up” times.  In these times, words just won’t “hack it” any longer.  Only our actions can prove out what our words have been saying all along.  Our actions, or lack of them, will prove whether our faith was real or just talk.  When those times come for you, just close your eyes, trust in your Lord to catch you, and jump!  He’s never dropped one of His children yet!

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that your faith will be so real and strong that you will have the courage to take whatever actions the Lord asks of you.  Ask Him to give you faith that will always lead to actions as a part of what the Holy Spirit does in your heart.  Allow Him to make you bold, strong, and courageous for Him!

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