August 9, 2019

More than a Label

People label things.  It’s what we do.  We often label other people based upon our first impression of them.  Even as we get to know them, we might change those labels, but we still label them. We wear self-imposed labels.  Not all labels are negative; some of them can be positive and worn like a badge of honor.  On the flip side, labels can destroy confidence, kill self-esteem, and dictate the way we approach life.  Labels are often a weapon wielded by the enemy with incredible precision and bad intentions. Labels don’t vanish easily.  Some titles stay with us, not just for the duration of our life, but long after our passing.  For example, look at the story of a woman we read about in the book of Joshua.  We see the story of Rahab toward the beginning of the Bible.  Fast forward well into the New Testament.  In Hebrews 11, we read this in verses 30-31: ³⁰ It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. ³¹ It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Rahab had a label, and it wasn’t a flattering one.  It followed her well into her legacy.  So what was it about Rahab that earned her the title of “Hero of the Faith”?  We will look at her story this coming Sunday.  I pray that you can join us as we discover that Rahab was significantly More than a Label. Pastor Brandon