Because It's a New Day We Live in the Present

Scripture: Joshua 1:2b-e

now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

Insights: Yesterday we observed how many people are stuck in the past and are incapable of moving on with their lives.  When we move into the remainder of verse two we find God commanding Joshua to ARISE!  Notice with me that in this verse God only gives Joshua one command and that is to cross the Jordan River.  Each day God has tasks He wishes us to accomplish for Him and His kingdom.  Often times what happens is we get ourselves so busy with routine and patterns that we fail to hear God’s voice and commands for each given day.  Another problem that some people have is they are always living in the future and talking about what they are going to do.  Unfortunately, these people never do anything in the present to make their “dreams” come to pass.  They have great schemes and talk, but no activity.  Beloved, the present is all we are promised.  We must live each day in complete surrender to the lordship of Christ Jesus.  When He says, “ARISE!”  We need to arise right then.  Think about Jesus’ command to those who would follow after Him.  He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross monthly, and follow Him.”  Is that what the verse says?  Absolutely NOT!  The verse says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross DAILY, and follow Him.”  Even Jesus’ requisite for obedience was a daily abiding with Him in order to know His will and His ways.  Do these statements mean that we don’t plan for the future then?  Again, a resounding no.  Tomorrow we will look at what the future looks like, but until then, Beloved, remember to live in the present fully obeying the commands of God.

Questions:

1. Are you living in the past, present or future?
2. In your present, are you fully obeying the commands of God?

Prayer: Father, help my heart to abide with You daily.  Help me to serve You daily.  Grant me the wisdom to know what Your will is for me THIS day and give me the courage to faithfully obey You. Amen.