crude gems

This week we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many non-Christians cannot understand why we as Christians make such a big fuss about the cross. But the cross is the undergirding of our faith. Without the cross there would be no remission of sin, no hope of eternal life with God, no basis for Christianity.
The cross was a symbol of sin and shame. After all, only those believed to be sinners and worthy of condemnation were hung on the cross. The Bible says, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal 3:13, KJV). But God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has a way of using the simple and crude things to make something unique and wonderful. He used a lowly stable as the birth place of the King of Kings; a handful of dust to create man, a stick in the hand of a stuttering leader to part the Red Sea, and an old rugged cross to save mankind.
This week I want to highlight two women, crude and shameful, whom God used to achieve His purpose. The first is Mary Magdalene out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils. This woman, shunned and ostracized by society, followed Jesus to His crucifixion and later had the honor of being the first person to see the risen Lord.
The other woman is Rahab in the old Testament who hid the spies that Joshua had sent to scope out the land. Rahab was a well known prostitute in te city, but because of her act of faith she and her family were spared from destruction. But even greater than that, Rahab became an ancestress of Jesus Christ.
Yes, two crude and despised women, but they were gems in the eyes of God. What is your situation today? Are you shunned, talked about, misused, abused? God loves you and wants to use you for His purpose. Will you let Him?