From This Day

One of my favourite verses is found in Acts 17:28a and inspires me to think about the place from where I speak or react and from where I allow my thoughts to take root: ‘For in Him we live and move and exist’ (NLT). What does this really mean, and how do I live from this place of trust and dependence on the Lord? When life is hard and I’m battling, how, in practice, does this look in my life?

In Joshua Chapter 2 we read that Joshua secretly sent out two spies to scout out the area around Jericho. This follows after the Lord had told Joshua: “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them” (Joshua 1:6 NLT).

One cannot read about Jericho without thinking about Rahab, the prostitute. The two spies came to her house upon entering the city. When the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab to bring the men out, she hid them, and helped them to escape that night. What stands out for me is that Rahab made a choice that day to acknowledge God. She said to the two spies: “For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below” (verse 11b).

From that day onwards, her life changed. She and her whole family were saved and lived among the Israelites (Joshua 6:25). Her name is recorded in Matthew 1:5 as being a part of Jesus’ genealogy. How amazing is that!

Rahab’s story brings us back to our verse for today where we are reminded to throw off everything that hinders and entangles us; to run our race with perseverance with our eyes fixed on Jesus. What is hindering and entangling you at this time in your life? This is the same thing that is taking your eyes off Jesus. It could be deep hurt and trauma, or unforgiveness and anger, a wrongful attitude, or maybe it’s jealousy, pride, or withdrawal.

There are many examples, as each one of us is on a unique journey of healing and restoration. The enemy wants to keep us from getting up, running our race, and trusting in God. But we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - people who have run the race and lived by faith; people who inspire us and keep us going; people like Rahab who made a choice to move on from her old life of sin.

Sometimes we get to a crossroads in our own lives where we need to make a decision. We can choose to let go of whatever is holding us back and give it to the Lord, trusting Him for deep healing and restoration. The other option is to stay at the crossroads and allow life to entangle us even more; holding us back and away from the victory He promises us. Let us choose this day to get up from what is holding us back, and place our hand in God’s hand.