Scripture:
Joshua 18:2-4 ESV
[2] There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. [3] So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you? [4] Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me.
Observation:
Joshua was doing his best to motivate the remaining tribes. There were still territories that had not been captured and or divided for Israel. The work was not completely done yet. So Joshua came up with a plan of action. Select 3 men from the remaining tribes that do not yet have an inheritance. They will go into the land and draw a map of it. When they are done we can divide it by lot.
Application:
It seems like we get comfortable with how far GOD has brought us and decide the work is done. I believe that GOD is always trying to get us to the next level. So what I’m saying is the work is never really done. When it is done we will be perfect and we all know that won’t happen till Jesus comes back. That does not mean we can just sit back and wait for that to happen we have to press on. For me the thing to remember is that it’s not about me it’s about the ones that come after me…my children and their children and their children. I still see behavior in myself that I don’t want to pass on to them. Procrastination for example I have a lot of projects around my house that I have been thinking about for years. But what good does it do to just think about them? GOD is a GOD of action, and a plan of action needs to be developed and then executed. We see that in this group of scripture. I’m not sure if this is something to you. What I do know is I can’t be the only one or the Holy Spirit would not have stopped me here this morning. Maybe a list needs to be made. Goals and projects and their level of priority you may start small… A 6-month plan of action. Then a 3 year goal. Either way, if you never start you can’t get done. This is what I do know. GOD will meet you where you are but HE does not intend to leave you there. The Bible says HE does not start a work that HE does not finish. Allow 2024 to be the year that you don’t put off what you know needs to be done develop a plan and stick to it. GOD has more in store for you. You just have to take it.
Prayer:
Father, thank you. I know that you are a GOD of completion. You see the end of our race and you will not stop us short. Father, today I pray for the motivation for all of us to press on. The work is not done. We know that you have more for us and we want it. Help us see that sitting still is not the plan. There are men and women who need to hear the wonderful things you have done In our lives but if we stop before the work is done they will just see a half-complete project and we become no different than anyone else. We want your spirit to move us to where you want us to be. Our lives are not our own they were bought with a price. We pray today that you forgive us for where we stop short and help us to see the next step, and develop a plan of action. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.