Joshua 3:1-5
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two
thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by
which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."
5 And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves,
for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.".
Welcome to Pastor’s Chat today! Well, from the video you
can see that I’m back in my office down here in Sneads Ferry, NC. Edith and I
have been in Roanoke, Virginia area for the entire week for dentist and
doctor’s appointments, one of those things that you have to do regularly when
you begin to get our age. Last night we also had the wonderful opportunity to
attend the beautiful graduation ceremony for two of our grandchildren, Grace
and Elijah Grooms.
We are so excited for them as they both have dedicated
their lives to the Lord and have determined a course for their future to be on
mission with Him. I was asked to speak a few minutes and used today’s verses in
Joshua 3 as my text and highlighted, “you have not passed this way before…”,
and “tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
By the way, we arrived back home around 2am this morning
and that is why we are a little late with today’s chat!
So far in Joshua we have examined the faith of two
individuals, Joshua and Rahab; and now the focus in the Book of Joshua moves to
the faith of an entire nation. As we study, we need to keep in mind that this
book deals with much more than ancient history, what God did centuries ago for
the Jews. It's about your life and the life of the church today—what God wants
to do here and now for those who trust Him. The Book of Joshua is about the
victory of faith and the glory that comes to God when His people trust and
obey.
In the Christian life you're either an overcomer or you're
overcome, a victor or a victim. After all, God didn't save us to make statues
out of us and put us on exhibition. He saved us to make soldiers out of us and
move us forward by faith to claim our rich inheritance in Jesus Christ. Moses
said it perfectly: "He brought us out...that He might bring us in"
(Deut. 6:23). Too many of God's people have the mistaken idea that
salvation—being delivered from the bondage of Egypt—is all that's involved in
the Christian life; but salvation is only the beginning. Both in our personal
spiritual growth and in our service for the Lord, "there remains very
much land yet to be possessed" (Josh. 13:1). The theme of the Book of
Joshua is the theme of the Book of Hebrews: "Let us go on"
(Heb. 6:1); and the only way to go on is by faith.
Last night I challenged my grandchildren, and everyone
there, to by faith move on to the next mission that the Lord might have for
each of us. Joshua was leading a new generation into the Promise Land. They had
never been that way before. They were about to cross the Jordan River and face
new challenges, new problems and new enemies. If they by faith kept their eyes
on the LORD and would trust and obey Him, they would experience Him doing great
“wonders” for them!
I quoted William Cary, the man considered to be the “Father
of modern-day missions”. On May 30, 1792, he was challenging a group of pastors
and Christian leader to consider their responsibility to take the gospel to far
corners of the earth and he said, “Attempt great things for God, Expect
great things from God!”
Yes, my friend, today we need to by faith respond to God’s
call to “cross over the Jordan” in front of us and by faith believe and
trust that we will see the glory of the LORD as He does great wonders among us!
God bless!
