Been Waiting Long?
To be honest, I never gave Caleb much thought after he and Joshua returned with their report of the Promise Land. See, God had said to Israel, “Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give you.” (Deut 1:8) Twelve scouts were sent to check out this new land, but Caleb and Joshua were the only two who believed God would deliver it. Caleb never doubted God would give Canaan over to Israel. His attitude was, “Forget about the giants…we got this!” Sadly though, he had to endure the wilderness with those who did doubt.
Caleb was forty when he was promised his portion of the land. Some forty-five years later, that’s…4…T…5 years later…the promise was still unfulfilled. This guy never lost his faith in the power of God nor did he lose his zeal to see God’s promise fulfilled. Whether Caleb was scouting out the Promised Land or waiting it out in the wilderness, he remained steadfast. “For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.” (Joshua 14:8)
Full of resolve, Caleb went before Joshua, “Today, I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.” (Joshua14:10-11) This man was unshakeable. I can imagine him saying, “Joshua, remember when you and I saw giants over there? Give me that hill country that the Lord promised me; if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out just as the Lord said.” He believed in his heart and was confessing with his mouth, just as he did four decades earlier, “Forget the giants…we got this! The Word of God will prevail!”
Have you been waiting long to see the promises of God fulfilled? God would have you know you are not forgotten. Do not lose faith and do not lose your zeal to see the promises fulfilled. Simply stay rooted in the Word of God daily. Faith will increase by way of the Word. As you remain faithful in following the Lord, you will see that the Word of God always prevails.
Caleb did see his promise fulfilled. Not only did he drive out the existing giants in his old age, but he also drove out the memory of them by renaming the land. Complete victory. Complete fulfillment. Faithful God.
It Don’t Mean A Thing
God has called us to a life of vision and purpose, not busyness. He desires more than a busy church-oriented life. A.W. Tozer wrote, “Many have laid the altar and divided the sacrifice into parts, but now seem satisfied to count the stones and rearrange the pieces with never a care that there is not a sign of fire.” What good is the sacrifice without the fire? Our hunger for God is the fire, where our life is the sacrifice.
Throughout the history of Israel and Judah it was said of the “good” kings, “He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but he did not…” There always seemed to be something left undone. Thankfully, King Josiah was an exception.
In 2 Kings 22, we see Josiah becoming king and “…doing what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight…He did not turn away from doing what was right.” Josiah was doing the best he knew to do and God WAS pleased with him. But is a clear conscience enough?
One day, the sacred scrolls (the scriptures) were discovered and read aloud to Josiah. His response to what he heard should drive us to the Word of God as well. He tore his clothes in despair and said, “Our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:4, “My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.” Yes, I can be busy doing many good things in and for the church. I can even be pleasing to the Lord. But, am I walking in the fullness of God’s favor? Am I doing everything I’m called to do? Am I living in the Word of God? What is He asking of me? What is He asking of you? Do we have the fire needed to consume our sacrifice? If not, let’s acquire the fire!
The reality today for me is that I cannot simply rely on my clear conscience, because…
“It don’t mean a thing!”
Wisdom says…
How powerful it is to see how scripture is tied to scripture. You can have a Pastor or Teacher explain it or even demonstrate it by cross referencing the Old and New Testaments. However, it is far more impacting when you see it happening during your own readings. Here is what I mean.
I try to read the respective proverb for the corresponding day of the month. In addition, I happened to be reading through Hebrews also. So, my reading for July 9th was Proverbs 9 and Hebrews 10.
In reading Proverbs 9, the following really stood out to me:
- Wisdom says, “Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live..” (v6)
- “Fear (severe reverence) of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.” (v10)
- “Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement.” (v10)
- “Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.” (v11)
- Walk in wisdom, and “you will be one to benefit.” (v12)
As I read Hebrews 10, I found the Lord used Proverbs 9 to prepare my mind and heart for the following realities:
- Old Testament sacrifices, “actually reminded (the offer-er) of their sins…” (v3)
- The enemy will have you repenting of past sins that the Father has long forgiven.
- Instead of moving forward in freedom, we hear, “You failed and you’ll always fail.”
God “does not want…nor is He pleased with” our being held captive to (or identified by) our past failures.
Verse 10 states the Christ’s sacrifice was, “Once for all time.” He came to set us free! Go the the cross. Leave your simple ways there and live the life he has always wanted you to live.
- “He forever made perfect those who are BEING made holy.” (v14)
- “I will never…remember…sins and lawless deeds.” (v17)
According to verse 20, Christ Jesus opened a NEW and LIFE-GIVING WAY! A way into the presence of the Sovereign King and Most High God! He is sovereign enough to chose you despite your failures. Sovereign enough grant you all the rights and privileges of being a child of the king. Seek greater knowledge and understanding of the Holy One. Reap all His benefits as you embrace the cross of Christ Jesus.
Ongoing repentance (continual sacrifices) for our past sins are no longer needed. The grace of God through Christ Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice covers it all. Wisdom is found in our walking in the freedom afforded to us by the cross. Have faith that God is actually big enough and powerful enough to forgive your worst sins.
Again, wisdom says, “Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live..”
