I don’t think it was coincidental that I read about Rahab in my devotion today! Rahab, ‘the prostitute’ as the hall of faith remembers her (Hebrews 11:31), But I like to stick with the Matthew 1:5 description of her, as ‘the grandmother of Jesus’. That tells more of the grace that met her.

I read her story this morning and reminded myself of the time when she housed the spies sent by Joshua and how the agreement between herself and the two men was “when we return, we will save only the family members which we find in this room”. The evidence of the room they were to look out to protect when they returned to attack had the signage of a scarlet scarf/thread hanging down the window.

Rahab had to ensure that the scarlet scarf remained hanging on that window until the men returned to save her and her family.

I had to do a quick research on the timescale between their departure and when they returned to conquer Jericho, and while there was no specific time scale, I can say based on the days stated for different things in the interim, that it was not less than 3 weeks.

So Rahab had to make sure that for whatever duration they remained there, the scarlet scarf must be visibly hanging because this was the sign of the place and people that Israel will spare when they returned to conquer Jericho. I had a mental picture of her constantly walking to the window several times in a day to double check it was there and no wind or bird had blown or taken it away.

As I read that I got reminded of the scripture that calls the Holy Spirit “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” ~ Ephesians 1:13-14.

The Holy Spirit is the ‘mark’ we bear for when Jesus returns for those who are His and those He will be returning with.

But note like I said that while the spies had given their word to Rahab, Rahab had to make sure that until they returned, the scarlet scarf was hanging. She had their word! But the scarlet scarf was the sign when they came back.

The Holy Spirit started to speak to my heart about how we must watch over our salvation like how Rahab must have watched over that scarlet scarf. Even if Gods word tells us that He is able to keep us until that perfect day (Philippians 1:6, 2 Timothy 1:12).

It is interesting because we don’t watch the scarlet scarf because we’re unsure of our safety in Gods hand or we’re unsure of Gods ability to keep us, rather we watch it because we’re fully committed to the covenant we share through the blood of Jesus.

Rahab already had their word, it was an oath they had bound themselves too, so watching the scarf wasn’t in fear of them forgetting, it was more in duty to the agreement made. Notice also that the agreement was a scarlet scarf. Imagine if Rahab swapped the scarf to a green or blue one and thought “it’s still a scarf”. The spies would have missed her and mistakenly killed everyone there and they will be free from any oath because the agreement was the scarlet scarf.

The sign for us is the deposit of the Holy Spirit in you and I. We must so jealousy watch for that Spirit in us! We must watch that He is given free and full room to operate, and we must check that our life and living are not grieving Him. We cannot swap the sign to churchgoing or alms giving or church-event planning. Not that these things are bad in themselves but The Holy Spirit is the primary mark Jesus is out for.

This means that even after we have received salvation, it is only the first step of the Christian journey, the continuing parts of consecration, discipleship and service must continue until the return of Jesus.

As we celebrate International women’s day, I thought it fair to ask us all, ‘when last did you check that the scarlet scarf was still hanging?’ Even more importantly, ‘how often to you check that the scarlet scarf is hanging?’ ‘Are you sure it’s the scarlet scarf hanging?’

I hope you don’t interpret this as an eye service devotion to God, but as responsibility that we have been charged with by reason of the body and blood that we now partake of.

May the scarlet scarf remain visible in and through us today and always!