Joshua

The book of Joshua is the first book detailing what happens to the people of God after the death of Moses, and when they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

Right from Chapter One, God tells young Joshua "Do not be afraid" and "Be courageous" for " ... I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.  Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.  No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1 :3-5)

The whole book is about courage and faith.  The people are told they will be given the land, but only once they start walking to claim it.  For 40 years they walked around in circles, now they have to walk into the land they have been promised, and claim it in faith.

Over and over the book shows how God miraculously keeps his promises to his people; from stopping the River Jordan from flowing, to causing the walls of Jericho to fall down.  God blesses His people, and keeps his promises.  This faithfulness is what prompts Joshua to quip the famous line "
...if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

JOSHUA

Our faith rewarded
He gave us the land we walk
My house serves the Lord

God is always faithful in keeping his promises.  And he loves us and watches over us, even if we think we have been forgotten.

Who will we serve?  God, or the things of this Earth?

What is God calling you to do today that is scary?  Where does he want you to plant your feet, so that he can claim the land?

Day 6: Commitment

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)

 

Familiar words for many of us.    Simple.  Direct.  Straightforward.

A spirit of …

COMMITMENT

 

One of my favourite Psalms is Psalm 16.  If we look at the first two verses, it says “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

Note that David is doing more than just acknowledging that GOD is his Lord, he is making it so by his words. GOD is the Lord, there is no two ways about that one; but here he is placing himself under his Lordship. Saying to him “today, I choose to make you my Lord.  Today, I choose to follow you.”

Today, how are we going to acknowledge GOD’s Lordship of our lives?  How are we going to show Him, and those around us, who we serve?

No matter what may arise.  No matter what temptations we may face.  No matter what others might do.  Will we make a stand, and say “No, I will serve the Lord.”