The geneology of Christ is not just messy but scandalous as well. Somewhere up in the line of Christ is a grandmother who was a Canaanite and, even worse, a prostitute. In fact, when you read the book of Joshua, Rahab is identified with her trade – Rahab the prostitute. Yet despite this awful reputation, she is the only one in all of Jericho who was spared together with her family on account of her. Not only that, but she went ahead to live in Israel as Joshua 6:25 tells us and, as our text suggests, even began a family. From her descendants came the Messiah of the world, who will deliver mankind from their sins.

The fact that Rahab is not identified in this genealogy with her former trade is a sure sign that she had been delivered from that life of sin. And that is what God does – He picks the most sinful of us, delivers us, and produces greatness from us. It does not matter what our previous life was, so long as we choose to place our faith in Jesus. When we do that, He is able to change us and transform us completely. No longer will we be identified with our former names, but He will give us a new name. For Rahab, she must now have been known as Mrs. Salmon or Mama Boaz and no longer as Rahab the prostitute. It does not matter what our past looks like if only we choose to trust God. He will restore us and our families and produce greatness from us.

1. What vice were/are you identified with? Christ can totally restore you.

2. What is your take home from today’s devotion?