Scarlet Cord
Originally scheduled for March 22
One of the uses of communion is as a symbol or
sign. In a sense, it is parallel to the scarlet cord that Rahab hung
out of her window, as sign to the Israelites. You can read the
entire story in the second chapter of Joshua. Let me point out some
similarities, from Rahab’s point of view:
·
It required her to be in obedience.
This obedience was grounded in faith. She believed that the spies
would keep their word — and then took action on that belief.
·
She did not see a miracle or heavenly
sign to produce this faith. Rather, like most of us dealing with
communion, she trusted the words of God’s people. If you take
communion, you are God’s ambassador.
·
She took the risk of being found out.
We are not sure whether the ruler saw the scarlet cord, but he knew
that the first place someone from out of town would stop would be
Rahab’s. She should have expected this; after all, he was only
“rounding up the usual suspects.”
The spies also give some meaning to communion.
·
They were required by their
commitment to look for that scarlet cord — the sign of a sinner.
Once they found it, they were required to take that family into
safety. So too we are to take sinners into our community of saints.
·
In the course of this they committed
the nation of Israel to honor the safety of Rahab and her family.
They did this without consulting anyone else; they didn’t check it
with the boss. They knew God’s will and made the commitment. When we
take sinners into our community we are to love them the same way.
·
They also took the personal risk:
“our lives for your lives.”
So I encourage you as you take Communion this
morning — follow these examples.
·
Take the risk; pay the price and do
not fear being known as one of His disciples. Join with God’s people
in doing this, sharing the risk of persecution and the blessing of
God.
·
Let Communion be a regular reminder
to you to follow through in your commitment to Christ. He committed
his life for your salvation; surely you can follow through on your
commitments to him.
The bread reminds you of his body; the cup, his
blood. It is our version of Rahab’s scarlet cord, a lifeline for
sinners.
