When we think about the people God chooses to save and use for His purposes, our human minds often assume He would pick the righteous, the strong, and the respectable. Yet Scripture tells us again and again that God’s grace is extended to those whom society rejects. He sees not just what a person is, but what they can become when His grace transforms their lives.
Today we turn our attention to two very different individuals: Rahab the prostitute in the Old Testament and Zacchaeus the tax collector in the New Testament. Both were labeled sinners by the world. Yet both experienced God’s mercy in powerful ways, showing us that salvation is available to all—no matter what you have done or where you have been.
Rahab lived in the fortified city of Jericho. Her profession was known to all: she was a prostitute. In human eyes, Rahab’s name and reputation would have been synonymous with shame. Yet when two spies sent by Joshua came to Jericho, they found refuge in Rahab’s house.
When questioned by the king’s men, Rahab hid the spies under stalks of flax on her roof and sent the soldiers away on a false trail (Joshua 2:4–6 NLT). Why would she risk her life for foreigners? Because she believed in the God of Israel. She confessed,
“I know the Lord has given you this land. … For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” (Joshua 2:9, 11 NLT)
That was faith. She had heard of the mighty works of God—how He dried up the Red Sea and gave victory over powerful kings—and she chose to believe.
As a sign of her faith, Rahab tied a scarlet cord in her window, marking her house for salvation (Joshua 2:18–21). When Jericho fell, the walls collapsed all around—but Rahab’s house stood. She and her family were spared (Joshua 6:25).
Think of it: a woman whose past was filled with sin and shame was not only saved but also grafted into God’s people. In time, she became the mother of Boaz (Matthew 1:5), placing her directly in the lineage of Christ Jesus.
Rahab’s story reminds us that God can redeem anyone, no matter their past. Faith transforms shame into honor.
Centuries later, another unlikely person encountered the living God in the form of Christ Jesus. Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, but his wealth came through corruption. As a chief tax collector for Rome, he had cheated his own people. He was despised and labeled a traitor.
Yet when Jesus came to Jericho, Zacchaeus longed to see Him. Being a short man, he climbed up a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse (Luke 19:3–4). That small act revealed a deeper hunger in his heart.
What happened next must have stunned the crowd. Jesus stopped under that tree and called him by name:
“Zacchaeus! Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” (Luke 19:5 NLT)
The people grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner” (Luke 19:7). But salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house that day. Overwhelmed by grace, Zacchaeus stood and declared:
“I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
(Luke 19:8 NLT)
Jesus responded,
“Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:9–10 NLT)
A corrupt man was transformed in a single encounter with Christ. His heart was changed, and his actions followed.
Rahab and Zacchaeus lived worlds apart—one a prostitute in ancient Canaan, the other a tax collector in the days of Rome. Yet their stories share the same truth:
- God’s grace is greater than our sin.
- Faith must be demonstrated through action.
- Rahab hid the spies and tied the scarlet cord.
- Zacchaeus gave away his wealth and made restitution.
- God delights in saving those society rejects.
- Salvation is not about what you have done, but about what God can do in you.
Rahab and Zacchaeus remind us that God looks at the heart. He does not define us by our past failures, but by the faith we place in Him and the transformation that follows.
If Rahab could be redeemed from prostitution and Zacchaeus could be transformed from corruption, then there is hope for everyone. No one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
Today, the scarlet cord still hangs—not from Rahab’s window, but from the cross of Christ. His blood is the sign of salvation for all who believe. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:13 NLT:
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
So I ask you: have you placed your faith in Christ? Do you believe that His grace is greater than your past? Today can be your day of salvation. Do not let shame or guilt keep you from the One who came to seek and save the lost.
Let us take this message to heart and also into the world. Just as Rahab extended protection and Zacchaeus showed repentance, we too must live out our faith in action. Share Christ with those who feel unworthy. Remind them that no one is beyond God’s grace. Encourage them with the truth that salvation is not about what you have done, but about what God is doing in you through Jesus Christ.
So, I say to you, “May the Lord strengthen your faith and use it for His glory, as you walk humbly in His presence.”
