May 11th, 2020

Blessings on this Monday
This coming Sunday we will begin to examine the lessons for us in the book of Joshua.  As we finished Numbers, we came to the part in the story where the conquest of the Promised Land was about to unfold. If we were to reword "conquering the Promised Land" into a different phrase, we would state that God said, "this is the land I have promised you, go and take it". There is a part of us that would ask, "if it is mine, why do I have to work for it?"  This is not an unreasonable question. Logic would seem to dictate that if someone gives us something, it is ours and that is the end of it. Imagine if on Christmas morning our parents said, "see that bike the neighbor is riding, that is the one I promised you, go and take it away from him."  

And yet, that is pretty much what God's people were told. The only thing I left out of my example is that our parents would also tells us that they would be with us and pretty much take care of the battle to get the bike as long as we did just what we were told. That they would be with us, would not eliminate effort on our part, it only would be an assurance of the final outcome.  

When Israel crossed the Jordan, they crossed from one territory to another. We are told that when we come to Christ, we cross over from death to life. Jesus' words in John 5:24 are [Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.] We have crossed over from one territory to another. From the territory of the grave to the territory of everlasting life.  We have entered into the promise of God. However, that does not mean there is no effort required of us as we progress. The promise is assured.  However, there is still work to be done which is conquering what previously lived in ourselves, Just because we have a new life in Him does not mean that which occupied our bodies before will just give up. Peter warns us in 1Peter 2:11 [Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.]  Our old passions, ungodly pursuits, and behaviors contrary to what God desires for HIs children, do not leave us without surrender to HIs will and a daily pursuit to claim the new life we have been given in Him. It is ours; of that there is no doubt. But each day, Christ has a little more of us as we grow in Him and our old self loses ground. 

Have a blessed Monday growing in Him, 
Vic