God and Seekers

Have you ever wondered about a God who loves seekers so much that He would call Philip from a successful mission in Samaria to go to the desert? God's love for this Ethiopian Eunuch is the application of the shepherd who left the 99 to find the one that was lost. In Acts 9 - God is going to call Ananias to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man named Saul! I don't know what he must have thought when he heard the name Judas, but I know what he thought when he heard the name Saul. "I don't need to find him; he is looking to kill me!" In chapter 10 God will send Peter to a Gentile seeker named Cornelius. (Peter was smart enough to take some witnesses with him.) In chapter 13 the Antioch church becomes a mission church to save the world. Our God doesn't want anyone to perish, but desires everyone to come to repentance.

If you like the conversion stories in Acts you will love the one in Joshua chapter two. It is the story of Rahab. Remember her from VBS. I must confess when I was younger I missed the point of her last name. You know, "the harlot." She shows up in the New Testament and the writer of Hebrews and James remember her full name, "Rahab the harlot." Have you ever wondered how two innocent Jewish spies ended up in the red light district? I tell you what I think, God sent them there! He knew the believing heart of Rahab and he sent his servants to save her. By the way read the story closely and you will see Rahab's faith in Yahweh, the God of Israel, impressed the spies. She encouraged their faith.

How are we going to save Rahab? How about a scarlet cord in the window? Reminds you of Passover doesn't it? What are we going to do with Rahab? Why don't we accept her and let her marry Salmon and have a son named Boaz. Then Boaz can marry Ruth and they can have a son named Obed the grandfather of David. And if we keep going we eventually run into Jesus! God is so good.

I hope we have the heart of God to seek and save those who are lost and are trying to find their way.

October 4, 2006