Just Like Rahab
When I graduated from college, I was invited back to my home church in Columbus to serve as the Student Pastor. I would actually be the first full-time Student Pastor Norton (now Eastpointe. There is a whole story about the old and new name of my home church. I was actually part of the team who led the church in changing it. But that’s for another time. Or not).
I served as the Student Pastor for 13 years and then I was able to serve as the Lead Pastor for 7 years before coming to MCC. I’m telling you that because I learned first hand what Jesus meant when He said (Luke 6:4) that “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” Jesus was talking about the familiarity people felt with Him kept them from recognizing Who He is. I had a similar issue.
Part of what makes it difficult is that I was serving as a pastor among people who knew me from birth. And I don’t just mean the folks who served in the nursery at our church, although there were people who had literally changed my diaper. I also mean those with whom I grew up and went to school. They saw the side of me away from the church. And many refused to believe I was the Tuttle brother who was in ministry. In a word, I had a past.
How could God use someone like me?
Maybe you’ve wondered the same thing. This weekend we’ll be looking at Rahab. If you don’t know her story yet, you will. And you might ask the same about her. By the way, you might be surprised to read her name and where you read it in the New Testament. (Matthew 1:5) What you won’t be surprised by is how you are Just Like Rahab.
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