Calling People to Repentance and Faith - Joshua 22-24 and Luke 3
God is in the business of calling us to repentance and faith. He uses leaders to call people to repentance and faith. God knows that our flesh is constantly waring against the Spirit to lead us into sin, so we are often in need of repentance. He knows that it is difficult for us to operate by faith, instead of by sight, so he is constantly exhorting us to exercise faith in Him. I pray that these passages help us to see these two realities.
Joshua was one of God's leaders who called the people to repent of sin and to live by faith. Even the incident with the tribes returning to their possessions on the eastern side of the Jordan river points to this. They had been faithful to the Lord's instructions, but when the others heard of this altar they built near the river, they thought they might be turning away from God. Why would they think that so quickly? They knew the human heart. They knew how easy it is for people to forsake the Lord. Then, Joshua called all of the people to remember all that God had done and said, since they left Egypt. If they forgot, they would turn away. He exhorted them to decide what was right. Either worship the idols or the True God, but don't try to straddle the fence. It must be one or the other. He and his family were going to worship God, no matter what everyone else decided. That is a great model for us today. We should be ready to point people to the Lord in any situation.
John, the Baptist, did the same thing to Israel before Jesus burst on the scene. They needed to realize their sin and repent, so he came baptizing them for repentance of sins. He came calling them to put their faith in the One who would come. Many people listened, but a lot of people would not repent. They thought they knew what was best. What group are we in today? Do we think we are OK? Do we think we do not need to repent? I hope not. I hope we realize that repentance is important for all of us. When we think we don't need to repent any more, Satan has us right where he wants us. When we think we have enough faith, we are going to drift from the Lord, because we must be increasing in faith or we will slide back. If we are hearing God, He will be constantly calling us to grow, and growth requires repentance from sin and faith in Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 1-3 and Luke 4:1-30.
Joshua was one of God's leaders who called the people to repent of sin and to live by faith. Even the incident with the tribes returning to their possessions on the eastern side of the Jordan river points to this. They had been faithful to the Lord's instructions, but when the others heard of this altar they built near the river, they thought they might be turning away from God. Why would they think that so quickly? They knew the human heart. They knew how easy it is for people to forsake the Lord. Then, Joshua called all of the people to remember all that God had done and said, since they left Egypt. If they forgot, they would turn away. He exhorted them to decide what was right. Either worship the idols or the True God, but don't try to straddle the fence. It must be one or the other. He and his family were going to worship God, no matter what everyone else decided. That is a great model for us today. We should be ready to point people to the Lord in any situation.
John, the Baptist, did the same thing to Israel before Jesus burst on the scene. They needed to realize their sin and repent, so he came baptizing them for repentance of sins. He came calling them to put their faith in the One who would come. Many people listened, but a lot of people would not repent. They thought they knew what was best. What group are we in today? Do we think we are OK? Do we think we do not need to repent? I hope not. I hope we realize that repentance is important for all of us. When we think we don't need to repent any more, Satan has us right where he wants us. When we think we have enough faith, we are going to drift from the Lord, because we must be increasing in faith or we will slide back. If we are hearing God, He will be constantly calling us to grow, and growth requires repentance from sin and faith in Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 1-3 and Luke 4:1-30.