Why are we here?

Why are we here?

Luke 5:31-32

And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

I think about the amount of time we spend with our Christian friends, talking about Christianity and I am amazed by the lopsided nature of our spiritual lives. Why are we here on earth? 

Sure, we are here to glorify God but how do we glorify God? By simply following the rules and teaching our kids about Christianity? Certainly we should follow the Lord's commands but I think it is more than that. 

We are here to call sinners to repentance. Many years ago, I was that sinner in need of repentance (I still struggle with sin, obviously). I didn't realize how lost I was until I came face to face with the reality of God's holiness and justice and my sin. 

I am forever thankful for those who contributed to my conversion. I don't even remember the preacher's name. I do remember the names of those who guided me in the process of expressing my repentance and faith to the Lord. To them I am thankful. Amber Odell, Brandon Hatmaker, Adam Lamle. To them I am so appreciative. The Lord used them to guide my into salvation. 

They were obedient to love me where I was and  to speak the truth into my life whether I received their message or not. 

This is how I desire to be. I desire to love people where they are and speak the truth into their lives. The Lord has to work in their hearts to draw them, but I can be obedient to share the wonderful news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Taken from reading Luke 1-5

Holding On

Hold on to God's promises.

Joshua 14:10-12

'And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.'

God promised Caleb some land. Caleb grew old and had not yet received the land so he approached Joshua and requested the opportunity to take the land. There are a few very fascinating details to this story I would like to point out.

First, Caleb credits God with his life. He actually says God kept him alive, just as God said he would. What an amazing acknowledgment. He sees the world through lenses of God's provision and sovereignty. 

Second, Caleb is just as strong as an eighty five year old man as he was when he was forty years old. Either God has miraculously restored his body continually, or Caleb has the mind and discipline to keep his activity level high and attitude positive. Maybe it was both, I don't know. Either way, it is amazing this man has remained focused on the vision of the land and remained strong throughout the years.

Third, Caleb does not expect the land to to be given to him without a fight. Caleb acknowledged the presence of many dwellers in the land, including the Anakim. Caleb even realized he may die trying to take the land. He said, 'It may be that the Lord will be with me...'

Caleb took full responsibility for himself, the vision God gave him, and for the fulfillment of the vision. At the same time Caleb fully realized the Lord's sovereignty and providence in the entire scheme of things. 

May I do the same in all of my dealings. 

Taken from reading Joshua 10-15

Taking a Stand

Sometimes you have to take a stand.

Joshua 24:14-15

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

There comes a point in all our lives when we put away the childish, flaky, wish washy, decision making and move forward. We set our priorities and go. We only get one life. Why waste it in indecision and uncertainty? 

Joshua stood at the end of his life, looking back over all he had seen and done. One hundred and ten years of memories, struggles, heartaches, failures, and victories. Joshua and his people were finally in the land. Joshua saw his entire generation pass away and a new generation rise.

Joshua, and possibly Caleb, were the only ones remaining of those who came out of Egypt. He saw the great works of God. He saw the failures of the Israelites. He saw the good and the bad. Joshua knew by experience what they knew by stories; the Lord has their best interests at heart. 

With this in mind Joshua stakes a public stance on his allegiance. The Lord is his God. That will not change. He and his family will serve the Lord. Everyone else needs to make a choice. What will they serve?

This is the type of conviction I want to lead by. No wavering. No backtracking. Just doing. 

Taken from reading Joshua 21-24

Fully Obedient

Full obedience is not common. 

Joshua 16:10

However they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.

The people of Israel had entered the land and conquered many of the people at this time. Joshua was allotting the portions of the land to the different tribes. All seemed well for God's people except this one thing. Ephraim and Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites from their land. Instead they made them do forced labor.

God's command seemed pretty clear. Drive out the people of the land. If the Israelites did not follow through with driving the people out of the land the Israelites would end up worshipping false gods and turning away from the Lord.

This seed of disobedience is an indicator of future disaster in the land.

I look at my life and wonder if I have a seed of disobedience that will cause disaster in my life. I am not perfect, that is for sure. I struggle with some stuff here and there. I fall to sin. I repent. I overcome many things, but others I still struggle with sometimes.

I do desire to experience the life of radical obedience to the Lord. I know the Lord sees what is best for me and calls me to walk intimately and obediently with him. He knows me. He knows my heart. He knows all things. 

Taken from reading Joshua 16-20