Reading With the People of God #7 CommitmentSample

Memorization Challenge:

6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:6-8 NLT)

Reading Primer: "Who's The Servant Here?"

We live in a world that makes it easy to believe we are the center of the universe! Life is all about promoting ourselves, getting a following, and becoming known and important. We can begin to think that God works for us and is our servant to help bring glory, prestige, and honor to us. If you think about it, that is what Adam and Eve wanted, which messed things up!

The truth is that no matter how often we fall into acting as if it is all about us, we are sadly mistaken. Even those of us who claim to follow Jesus and have put our trust in Jesus can fall prey to living as if God is our servant instead of daily bowing the knee to Him! Even in the church, we can lose sight of this. God’s way is the best way. God’s power is the ultimate power. And we are called to serve His church, not vice versa. It is all about HIm!

So, as you read these scriptures today, look for how God makes it clear and reminds us that He is God and you and I are not. God calls the shots and is big enough and great enough to carry them all out. And He is for His people, you and me, who have put their trust in Jesus.

- Steve Moody, Mentor, Teacher, Retired Pastor and Educator