Thursday, January 26: Joshua 18- Gift and responsibility.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you? Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me (3-4).

The Lord gave Israel an incredible inheritance… the Promised Land. God hand brought them in. God’s hand gave them victory… the Land was gift.

But along with the gift comes responsibility. This responsibility plays itself out in many and different ways throughout our walk of faith. Israel it seems lost initiative. They were waiting for the silver platter rather than seizing the Land the Lord had given them. Through Joshua’s words God seems to be spurring Israel on to take initiative and step into the promise the Lord gave.

As I ponder this there is a fine line in the dance of cooperation with the Lord. As believers we need to press into every gift the Lord gives… work at it, grab hold of it, and use it to God’s glory of course. But then again, we don’t want to run ahead of God into places and uses for which God has not prepared or called us.

It is owning our salvation but understanding it is gift. (Work out your salvation with fear and trembling Philippians 2:12)

It is seeking to advance the gospel, but always listing for God’s open and closed doors (see Paul’s call to Macedonia, Acts 16)

It was taking the Land but remembering it was by God’s power not their own.

Every gift of God comes with responsibility to use it and to use it by faith following the constant lead of the Lord through open and closed doors.

Am I taking responsibility for my salvation? Am I working at and for my spiritual growth… all the while understanding that God shows the increase?

Hmmm things tot think about. How about you???

Lord, guide me in the dance of following You. To have the constant faith to listen and follow while having the hutzpah to go for it… I pray in Jesus name. Amen.