Joshua 1:3 "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses."
In life, we are constantly faced with new tasks. Whether it is applying for a new job, expanding our current career, or seeking a new educational opportunity, such endeavors often require a mixture of knowledge, skill, and faith. However, often, our faith is tested when it seems that successfully completing the task at hand is impossible.
In the first chapter of Joshua, Joshua is installed as Leader of Israel following Moses' death. As the new leader of the Israelites, Joshua is commanded by God to continue Moses' task of getting the people of Israel ready to cross the Jordan River. To understand the weight of this task, we must first recognize the many obstacles that stood in the way of Joshua's success. First, as Moses' successor he not only had to fill Moses' shoes but also continue the journey that Moses did not complete. Secondly, he had to lead hundreds of Israelites over the Jordan River without a boat or a bridge. As a result, Joshua's success seemed unlikely.
Knowing the challenge that was ahead of Joshua, God interceded to strengthen Joshua's faith. In Verse 3, God makes it plain for Joshua and lets him know that there is no need to fear because every where that the sole of his foot will tread (literally every piece of land that Joshua will walk upon) is already Joshua's. And as if this wasn't enough, God also lets Joshua know that the same promise that was given to Moses is valid for Joshua.
This passage is extremely powerful for many reasons. First, it shows us that when we are challenged by God to pursue a new task, we are entitled to the same anointing and promises that our predecessor had -- the anointing is considered a part of our inheritance. Secondly, it shows us that if we follow God's directions, then He will (1) lay out a path for us; (2) give us ownership of anything that we have to walk across to get to our goal (verse 3); and (3) make sure that NO ONE can stand in the way of us getting to our goal (Verse 5). Even more, God lets us know that He is by our side the entire time, never leaving nor forsaking us (Verse 5).
So what do we have to do to successfully complete our God-given task? The two-part answer is found in Joshua 1:7. In this verse, God lets us know that we will be successful as long as we have strength and courage and are careful to obey all the laws that Moses provided for us (the Commandments). If we follow these directions, then we are guaranteed to be successful wherever we go. #itsinthebook
#DailyDoseofJesus
Be Blessed!
Read the entire passage here --> Joshua 1
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Philippians 4:6 "Let God Take the Wheel"
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
With life's ups and downs, especially in these uncertain times, we often become anxious -- or worried, concerned, uneasy -- about what tomorrow holds. With unemployment at 6.1 percent, crime rates rising, and unexplainable tragedies such as the Mike Brown massacre in Ferguson, MO, such feelings are well understood. But as I have learned through my own experiences, the Bible is a living and breathing book with insightful messages that are just as relevant today as they were in the Bible days. Thus, it isn't surprising that an antidote for our worry is provided in Philippians 4.
In this chapter, Paul is ending his friendly letter to the church in Philippi and is encouraging his readers to remain positive (many were in dismay over Paul's imprisonment in Rome after he was convicted of being a follower of Jesus). Paul encourages his readers to stop worrying about his situation and instead cast their cares on God through prayer and supplication (pleading) with Thanksgiving (thanking God for his ability to answer requests instead of just indulging in a pity party).
As Christians, we should also follow Paul's instructions and essentially let God take the wheel. It is only when we let go of things that we cannot control and go to God with our concerns that we make room for God to take control of our situation and answer our requests.
#DAILYDOSEOFJESUS
Be Blessed!
Read the full chapter here --> Philippians 4
With life's ups and downs, especially in these uncertain times, we often become anxious -- or worried, concerned, uneasy -- about what tomorrow holds. With unemployment at 6.1 percent, crime rates rising, and unexplainable tragedies such as the Mike Brown massacre in Ferguson, MO, such feelings are well understood. But as I have learned through my own experiences, the Bible is a living and breathing book with insightful messages that are just as relevant today as they were in the Bible days. Thus, it isn't surprising that an antidote for our worry is provided in Philippians 4.
In this chapter, Paul is ending his friendly letter to the church in Philippi and is encouraging his readers to remain positive (many were in dismay over Paul's imprisonment in Rome after he was convicted of being a follower of Jesus). Paul encourages his readers to stop worrying about his situation and instead cast their cares on God through prayer and supplication (pleading) with Thanksgiving (thanking God for his ability to answer requests instead of just indulging in a pity party).
As Christians, we should also follow Paul's instructions and essentially let God take the wheel. It is only when we let go of things that we cannot control and go to God with our concerns that we make room for God to take control of our situation and answer our requests.
#DAILYDOSEOFJESUS
Be Blessed!
Read the full chapter here --> Philippians 4
Welcome
This blog is my personal form of Bible study. With each post, I hope to delve deeper into the word of God and explore all that God has to say. God's grace is overflowing! He's opened doors for me and made a way for me! Though, I cannot tell it all, I hope that through these daily doses of Jesus, I'll be able to do just that!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)