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. (Joshua 1:6-7 NLT)

Reading Primer:

Who do you trust? Big question! As we explore Psalm 40, the following scripture gives us something to think about,

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”

Breaking this down a bit, we are encouraged to move away from people in our lives who hold the approval of man dear and that we do not get distracted by idols (such as materialism, sexual indulgence, etc.). And as we release this way of living, we find the blessing of true happiness and joy that exists only through faith in God!

A wonderful woman who exemplifies this is Rahab. She knew of the Jewish people's victories, which led her to believe their God was the one true God, as evidenced in Joshua 2:9. What is most remarkable is that her deeds in this chapter were a work of faith. She trusted God, and this great faith is pleasing to God.

As we all continue to stumble along together in our spiritual walks, we must highly value communal prayer as a body of believers. 1 Timothy 2 reminds us that prayer is not only a privilege bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father but also an obligation. We are called to pray for each other, for those who haven’t yet heard the message of salvation, and to give praise in all circumstances. E.M. Bounds says it best,

“What the church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations, or novel methods. The Church needs people whom the Holy Spirit can use – people of prayer, people mighty in prayer.”

This is what will lead to true, real, abiding faith, which will help us make the Lord our ultimate trust.

- Liz Williams, Joyfully Consecrated to God.