"I followed the LORD my God fully" Joshua 14:8
Do we fully follow the LORD each day, believing God no matter what we see or feel or what others think? It is better to stand alone and do what God has said, to remember the words of the LORD to "be strong and courageous", like Caleb and Joshua.
The people spoke against these two men thinking they were foolish because the people did not believe 'ALL that the LORD had spoken'. The two who believed God were the two who were right despite the circumstance. The odds and percentages against them no matter how great were not greater than their God!
In the strength of the LORD we conquer, the Bible promises that "Not one of His Good promises He has made will ever fail" 1 Kings 8:56
Many times in scripture we read of man's consequences when things were taken in their own hands instead of obeying God's Word. Eve ate of the fruit, Sarah gave Abraham her maid, David devised a deadly plan, and the children of Israel rebelled at the edge of the Promised Land. If their belief in the character of God was greater than their difficult circumstances or their belief in God greater than their fleshly wisdom things may have been a bit different for them as they all experienced the consequences of their sin. (Unbelief = Sin) What might have happened if they had sought God’s righteousness above their own selfish rights and desires? And what about us?
Caleb and Joshua followed the LORD despite the many complaints from those around them. They lived for an Audience of One, fully following God. How I desire to have the spirit of Caleb that says, "I am stronger this day than when Moses first sent me", "give me this mountain" Joshua 14:11-12.
We read too how Caleb knew that God would give him His strength for each demand given, for the mountain he was facing. This is to 'have a heart like Caleb' and to serve continually with the strength God gives. To trust God first and before our own comfort, ways and plans. Being confident in the LORD and believing that He is capable of meeting our needs and He alone can be trusted in the fulfillment of His Word.
May we live our life for 'an Audience of One' in the choices we make unlike those in the Bible who concocted plans thinking this would provide a more desirable outcome, but through their disobedience received something far more difficult as they were outside of Gods will ..... "it is better to be in a trial in the will of God than to be in a trial outside of the will of God" . How we must learn by their examples that God blesses obedience regardless of how things may appear.
May we focus on God’s power rather than our weaknesses. We can never undo the past, but we can choose to learn from their mistakes. I love how God has given us the actions of others in scriptures so we might see a reflection of our own actions.
Self is a false comforter and it always speaks self pity and whispers in our ears of the comforts of this world. We cannot serve God and comfort. Satan wants to wear us out and build up walls and shut us in. When we are overwhelmed in our various trials and in our testings how much more do we appreciate the LORD who strengthens us for all that lies ahead. God's people have a need for His comfort not the comforts of the flesh that the world tells us we need.
As God’s beloved children, we must seek after a deeper understanding of His character and promises. With the grace He provides, we must continue to yield our will to His. The Lord desires that we trust His plans and His purposes which are to protect and bless us and "do us good".
We pass the test of faith, like Caleb, when "we fully follow God" and "climb the mountains before us". Like Caleb, when we face our mountains and climb to victory our life is a blessing to others. Jesus walked up the mountain to calvary to bring us into victory in Him and He freely offers that gift to all who call upon Him - the power to climb the mountains of life lies in Him.
With a spirit of humility, let us follow in obedience His Word living with the confidence that the God of all grace is by our side and may we commit this day to ...."Live for an Audience of One"
He is faithful; regardless.
Comments