Biddeford Church of Christ

I suspect by the title, you know where I am going.  Once again, it is one of those familiar texts that you have read multiple times and have heard many lessons from over the years.  It is James 1:2-4, which says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Being drawn to this text due to a conversation I had with someone this past week.  One of the things mentioned in passing was this idea of wisdom and how, hopefully, with age, it would be more abundant.  Isaac Watts wrote, “May I govern my passions with absolute sway, and grow wiser and better as life wears away.”  I think it is beneficial to see how wisdom develops.

Precisely what is wisdom?  There is a prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr called the serenity prayer, which goes like this, “God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”  Wisdom has to do with our ability to know the difference.  What difference?  Consider the definition of the Greek word used in this text: broad and full intelligence, the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living.  Wisdom is the by-product of gleaning from God’s word the truths He yearns for us to learn and then using what we have learned to make decisions that glorify Him.  Okay, now let’s put this idea in the context and see how this often works.

We can often develop during a trial, or at least it can be.  Why?  “Trials” here means an adversity, affliction, troubles of which, in the case of these Christians, were not of their own doing other than being Christians.  Their attitudes had to be developed and should see these trials as an opportunity.  WHAT?  How could they begin to be…joyful?  If I understand it right, it was dependent upon what their attention was on; either the turmoil or on God working in them to grow wiser.  For me, in my life, I believe one of the things that have hindered me at times from becoming wiser, is my lack of patience, especially under duress.  I don’t want to wait, because I see no purpose in what is taking place.   Augustine once said, “Patience is the companion of wisdom.”  Why the need for patience?   So that the trial which we face can “have its perfect work.”  When tested, before wisdom can come forth, there must be a tilling of the heart, and patience must grow roots.  It is the fertilizer necessary for understanding to develop in our lives.  This process takes time!  Proverbs 14:29 says in part, “A patient man has great understanding…”  Could it be that patience enables us to see with greater clarity the areas of our life that need growth, and that same patience enables us to take advantage of the opportunity the trial has given us to grow?  When we exhibit patience, the testing is allowed to become the proving ground of our faith. It helps us to “be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  In that process, we can take joy because that process is making us more like the One we love, Jesus.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally

and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

                                                                                                                                    James 1:5

As often as I have read this verse in its context, I think I have grasped something I never realized before.  When we recognize that we need wisdom and trust that God can provide it to us liberally. God invites us to ask Him for it.  But, did you realize that in asking God for wisdom, imploring Him to help us to grow, we could be asking Him to bring a trial our way?  When we face various struggles, we gain wisdom. There is no way around it.

Stretch us, Lord, but keep us from breaking.  Push us, Lord, but don’t let us fall.  Help us, Lord, to become more like You.  And if that means we must face adversity, then create within us a joyful heart that confidently knows by faith that the Master artist is at work in our lives and He is making a masterpiece.

Dennis

Today, for many in the Christian world, it is one of the more significant days of the year.  For today is what many calls Easter Sunday, where church facilities are often fuller than ever and families gather to celebrate with Easter egg hunts and a wonderful meal.  It is a time of remembrance…a time of joyful remembrance because today we remind ourselves of the resurrection of Christ.

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you,

which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved,

if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you believe in vain.

                                                                                                                        1^st Corinthians 15:1-2

I want to transport us back almost 2000 years, early in the ministry of Jesus.  In the temple we find Him frustrated with the Jews, His people…God’s people.  He says to them as He clears out the temple, “Take these things away!  Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:16)  Troubled by His actions, the Jews ask, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” (john 2:18)  Jesus’s answer would change history one day, for answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19)  Everything about the good news of Jesus hinged itself on this one event, His resurrection…Resurrection Day.

What exactly did Paul preach to them?  Well, in 1^st Corinthians 15:3-8 we find the answer to this question: he spoke of Christ’s death, His burial and “that He rose again according to the Scriptures.”  What scriptures?  Maybe Paul is talking about Psalm 16:10, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”  There is a good chance he is referring to Jonah 1:17, “And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”  I say this only because Jesus Himself would make reference to this text  in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  Only three days and nights, for He would be resurrected!  This claim is not without evidence as Paul made clear to the church in Corinth.  Peter, the twelve and “over five hundred brethren at once” have all seen the resurrected Christ (1^st Corinthians 15:6).  The significance about them is found in these words, “…of whom the greater part remain to the present.”  If you’re not sure, ask them!  Better yet, ask me, Paul says, for I saw the resurrected Christ myself (v8).  The good news about Christ hinges on the reality that He was resurrected.  For if He was not, “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1^st Corinthians 15:19).

The significance of Christ’s resurrection is at the core of all we hope for!  Listen to what Paul says, “For since by man [mankind] came death, by Man [Christ] came the resurrection of the dead” (1^st Corinthians 15:21).  If there is no resurrection to hope in, what are we doing?  Or, as Paul said, “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’” (1^st Corinthians 15:32)  But Christ has risen!  You have proof!  He exhorts them, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1^st Corinthians 15:33).  Don’t listen to the naysayers!  Why?  Because the absence of Christ’s resurrection leaves us with this life and this life only, nothing to look forward to, and thus, no real reason for change, to avoid sin.  Paul would be right.  Let’s eat and drink, party it up if you will.  Wait!  He has risen!  He is alive!  There is hope beyond this broken world.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;

nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall

not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–in a moment, in the twinkling of an

eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be

raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

                                                                                                               1^st Corinthians 15:50-52

We shall be changed!!  Because He is risen, we have hope beyond this life, this world.  We who believe in His resurrection today, as Paul wanted then back then, can loudly proclaim, “O Death, where is your sting?  O hades, where is your victory?” (1^st Corinthians 15:55)  They have none!  They have lost, we have won!  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1^st Corinthians 15:57).  With the confidence found only in His marvelous resurrection, Paul exhorts them and I now exhort us all, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1^st Corinthians 15:58).

Dennis

In the Power for Today there was an article entitled, Mind Listing.  In it, the author makes this point, “Sometimes, we don’t listen with our mind because we have already decided the answer.”  This got me to thinking about this whole idea of learning to love and why it is so important.  Let me explain by considering these bible verses that speak about our call to love.  I think the most obvious one is found in Luke 10:27, ‘So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”  Then, there is the ever-popular idea of “loving your enemy” (Matthew 5:44), which I brought up on numerous occasions, both in bible class and sermons.  You don’t have to be reminded of Jesus’s exhortation of the early disciples to “love one another” (John 13:34).  Or there is this one that goes directly to the heart, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…” (John 14:23).  God beckons us to offer to the world and to Him what they desire the most…love.

We love Him because He first loved us. (1^st John 4:19)

Okay, I realize that none of this is new: for a matter of fact, been there and “know” that; or do we?  Not long ago I was involved in a conversation with someone who battled with the idea that God loves them because they had “already decided the answer.”  Many bible verses were shared, none so powerful in my mind at this time than Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Then there is of course John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  These verses, so commonly used, speak of God’s incredible love for mankind.  A love that was present “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4) when God put together His redemptive plan.  The simple, yet profound reality is this, GOD LOVES MANKIND!!!  Before we heard the gospel, while still sinners, knowing all we would do, HE LOVES US!!!  No amount of work, righteous activity, will increase His love of you.  That is the truth of the matter.  “Sometimes, we don’t listen with our mind because we have already decided the answer.”  Maybe the answer sounds like this, “God can love you, but not me.  You don’t know what I have done, how much of a failure I am.  Maybe, just maybe, if I work on some things, I can accept that He loves me.”  The only problem is, I never seem to get there and so in my mind I doubt His love for me.  Such doubt weighs us down, often handcuffing us to our past and impeding any real ability to love God, let alone others.  Why?  Because you cannot give that which you do not have.

This brings me to the role of faith.  Willard Tate writes, “We simply have to want to believe that God loves us.  It’s a decision, a choice we make with our will to accept His word when He says in so many places that He loves us.”  Any thought in the mind that would seek to argue that fact, needs to be shackled and cast away by the power of His word and the finished work of the cross: Allowing His love, His amazing grace, to free us of any idea that His love is somehow earned or even can be earned.  Realizing that my call to love Him and others is anchored in one simple fact, God love ME!  Now and always!

Dennis

This week’s lesson will come from 1^st John 3:16-20.  I was asked about this text a short while back and we also had it as part of our morning reading this past week.  It goes well with our Sunday morning bible class, which is covering Willard Tate’s book, Learning to Love.  In this text we can answer some very basic questions, such as, what is love?  Not so much the defining of the word, although that is important, but what does love is to look like when displayed.  Of course, the supreme example of Christ’s sacrifice is the ultimate example and as such, we too “ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (v16).  Still, there are more common, everyday examples where love is revealed.  One is the sharing of our possessions.  I can’t help but reflect back on the early church’s willingness to give of their possessions for the benefit of the believers (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32).   Of course, there is the example of the Macedonia churches who in “the abundance of their joy and deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (2^nd Corinthians 8:2).  It is true, you can go through the early church found in the scriptures and note their need to grow in Christ.  But you can also see in numerous places the love of Christ clearly exhibited in their actions.  More about that in the lesson today.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all,

especially to those who are of the household of faith.

                                                                                                                        Galatians 6:10

This verse has been used over the years to emphasize what was just talked about above; that is, the church making every opportunity to serve one another.  But I want to talk about these words for a moment, “let us do good to all.”   The church is called to serve the community as well as itself.  Over the years we have done clothes giveaways, car washes, park cleaning, house painting and the list goes on.  Thanks to the ladies, we will be seeking a new opportunity, providing food for the local food pantry.  Initially a project that was going to take place on the Ladies Day, it was suggested that we as a church family take this task on.  How will it work?  Simple.  You bring in non-perishable items and place them on (and if need be, under) the table located under the hymnal board located to the right at the front of the auditorium.  As food is collected, it will be delivered to a local pantry.  This is a great opportunity to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Thank you ladies for suggesting this and getting the ball rolling.  Who knows, maybe other opportunities will arise enabling us to shine His light even more.

Dennis

You may have noticed that each Sunday our Scripture Reading is coming from Psalm 119, and for good reason.  With our theme for this year focusing on the idea of mediation; more specifically, mediating on God’s Word, this chapter in Psalms is rich with insight.  Seven times, depending on your translation, you will find the word meditation or meditate in this chapter.  I found these words to be powerful, “Oh, how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day.  You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 11:97-99).  This caused me to ask myself, “Just how important is this whole idea of meditation?”  I then came across the following verse.

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them,

that your progress may be evident to all.

                                                                   1^st Timothy 4:15

The evangelist Timothy had a challenging work as he ministers to the church in Ephesus.  From the onset, we know he is battling against false teaching (1:3).  He also is given the task of organizing the leadership, establishing elders and deacons (3).  Paul exhorts him saying, “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ…” (4:6).  His effectiveness in accomplishing these and many other objectives which were intended to mature and help grow the Lord’s church, is linked in part to his ability to remain focused.  Isaiah writes, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).  As one person writes, “The battle of the mind is for focus.”  Now your translation may read like this, “Be diligent (NKJV, meditate) in these matters…”  The Greek word here means to care for, attend carefully, practice, to meditate i. q. devise, contrive.  FOCUS!!!  The very idea of focusing demands that there be something to focus on, and in Timothy’s case, it was the work before him.  He was given a task not to do anything he wanted, but rather a particular thing which was to “give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1^st Timothy 4:14).  And this focus was not just about him.  Listen to what Paul says, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1^st Timothy 4:16).

One final thought about this whole idea of mediation; that is, being focused.  How was Timothy going to give himself “entirely to them” (his ministry) without being focused?  I have, and a number of occasions, attempted to complete an important project only to become distracted by other things around me.  I can show you many of those very projects.  This brings me to these words from v15, “…that your progress may be evident to all.”  It is true to say, “We are works in progress as long as we progress in the work.”  What could help us in this journey?  Focus (i.e., meditation)!  Not on anything, but on God and His word.  May He bless you this day.

Dennis

I believe it was Joe who talked about the widow who gave “two mites” (NIV says “very small copper coins”) into the temple treasury, representing “all that she had” (Mark 12:44).  I don’t know about you, but such examples like this cause me to think deeply about what it means to give.  In a sense, there is a measuring stick, so to speak, that enables us to try and grasp how much someone cares.  So, I wondered, is there some way we can measure God’s love for us…for me?

“…For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

                                       Romans 3:22-23

Sin is a word often tossed around in discussion, but has it lost its edge; that is, just how serious a problem it is for mankind?  If you are like me, I have little problem reeling off the bible verses that speak of its devastating consequences.  It has caused a separation between God and His creation, humanity (Isaiah 59:1-2).  Left unchecked, it brings about spiritual death (Romans 6:23) and “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2nd Thessalonians 1:9).  But like with so many things, we tend to measure sin.  And it’s not that measuring is wrong, but rather, how we measure is so often flawed.  The Pharisee did this as he prayed to God, thanking Him that he wasn’t “like other men…even as this tax collector” (Luke 18:11).  When it comes to sin, we measure it by severity rather than merely by its consequence.  In so doing, whether we realize it or not, we could be devaluing our understanding of God’s love for me.  The implications are profound.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved…

…if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ

forgave you, so you also must do.”

                                                  Colossians 3:13

Okay, work with me for just a moment.  1st John 4:19 states, “We love Him because He first loved us.”  Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own loved toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) while we were still SINNERS!  Just how much of a sinner were you?  To the extent that I measure my sinfulness and desperate need for His redemptive work, will be in part, be how I can measure His love for me.  That measure of love will then be the force that empowers me to love others.  One of the most challenging acts of love towards others is forgiveness.  Forgiveness is not easy!  As accurate as that may be, what empowers us to take that journey?  It begins, in part, by reminding ourselves of God’s enormous love for us, for me, that while I was still a sinner, He gave Jesus, His only begotten Son to redeem me, us.

So, can we measure God’s love?  Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  I believe you can, the only problem is, there is no measuring stick long enough.   May He who loves us so much, who has given us such a fantastic gift filled with hope, move us today to share His love with those around us.  Have a blessed day!

Dennis

I flipped the calendar over, the ones published for the church family, and found this text concerning meditation.  Psalm 119:15-16, “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”  The Psalmist recognizes the link between insight and transformation; which is in part, a heart that yearns for his God’s word.  Meditation also promotes another aspect of learning; it is called repetition.  Peter wrote, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things” (2^nd Peter 1:12).  That said, I want to reflect on a lesson I did some time ago because it is so important to be reminded.  Only this time, I want to add something to it.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

marvelous are Your works, and that my soul very well.

                                              Psalm 139:14

Have any of you taken the sheet home and placed it up on a cabinet to remind you daily of this truth?  Corey, Debbie and I repeat it every weekday morning.  Two words stand out, catching our attention and rightly so.  The first word is fearfully which means to revere or reverence.  It presents the idea that when mankind genuinely looks at themselves in light of being God’s creation, it can’t help but “produce fear and reverence” (Barnes’ Notes).  Wonderfully means to distinguish; that is, “I am distinguished among thy works by things which tend to exalt my ideas of God, and to fill my soul with reverent and devout feelings” (Barns’ Notes).  So amazed at what he sees, the Psalmist is compelled to write, “Marvelous are Your works.”

Really, how many of us see ourselves in this fashion.  The reason is, we are not looking at the creation; but rather, what the creation has done or not done.  There is room for reflection in life: that need to examine and maybe at times repent of ungodly behavior.  This is a journey filled with mountain tops and valleys.  Here though, we are being challenged to simply see ourselves in light of God’s amazing creation.  A creation that had so many wonderful things, but it wasn’t until man was created that God said it “was very good” (Genesis 1:31).  Why would man’s creation make such a difference?  Because we were the only part of creation that was made in His image (Genesis1:26).  The question is, does your soul know this very well?

I close with one last thought which came to me after several times quoting this verse in the morning.  It was the very first four words, “I will praise You.”  I understand that grasping this kind of truth can help Christians to have a healthy view of self.  Yet it dawned on me that such a healthy view opens the doorway to praise of the One who made all things, including me.  He deserves praise!  Transform my thinking Lord, so I can see me as You have made me.  For You are worthy of praise.

Dennis

I want to be upfront with all of you, letting you know that this week’s lesson and article are deeply woven in both last week’s lesson and something going on this week; that is, my son Dennis’s birthday.  Another year has passed, making it four years now since we have heard from him.  It is during times like this that anxiousness can rear its ugly head, thus it is important to meditate (dwell on) certain things: things that are truth, noble, just, pure, lovely…you get the idea.  So, today I want to plant a seed, a truth that is powerful when focused on.  It has not the capacity to change the situation but has every ability to change how you journey through it.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

                                                             Hebrews 13:5

Promises, promises.  I will meet you there at such and such a time.  We live in a world of so many promises, many of which are broken.  Maybe this is why such words from God are guardedly received.  Dwight L. Moody once said, “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”  We can go back to Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8 and find these very words of encouragement spoken by Moses to Israel and to Joshua as the time to claim the Promised Land draws closer.  Like them, we too are on a journey towards the promised land.  There will be times of testing and so the exhortation to walking faithfully is seen in Hebrews 13:1-5.  How we conduct ourselves is so important, but not as important of realizing God’s promise.  He will never leave you; that is, not to uphold, let sink.  He will never forsake you; that is, to leave in straits, leave helpless.  NEVER!!!  Some want to suggest that this is proof of one’s absolute salvation and although tempted, I wish in this message not to be distracted from my intent; which is, to hear God’s promise to us as we journey homeward.  I will never leave or forsake you!  There will be times in this walk of ours, where we will echo the words of the psalmist, “How long, O Lord?  Will You forget me forever?  How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1).  God’s presence will be questioned if not doubted.

It is during such times that we need to cling to His promise that he will be and is, always there for us.  Through dark times and wayward times, He is always at work wanting to help us as we journey homeward.  Maybe that is the writer of Hebrews follows this promise with these words, “So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6).  It is true, God will never leave any of us, nor will He forsake us.  It’s the truth!  Think about that and may He bless you with His assurance this day.

Dennis

Back in November of last year, I did a lesson on Philippians 4:6-9, and in that lesson, I introduced this idea of mediation.  Today, I want to revisit that text, only this time, look a little deeper into this idea of meditation and consider another benefit associated with it.  Let’s first gather some insight into the advantage, in this case, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).  Thayer’s defines the word peace as the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatever sort that is.  It is an inner reality that is not manipulated by external things of life.

This peace, that state or awareness of the inner person and supplied to us by God, “will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  I know definitions can get frustrating at times, but it is essential to note this idea of “hearts and minds.”  Hearts here means the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors, while the word minds carry a similar meaning of thoughts and purposes.  So, God wants to and can, through Christ and His redemptive work, protect the core of inner man where reason takes place, from the destructive influences of the world around them.  The question is, “How?”

Finally, brethren…meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

If I understand it right, this “peace that surpasses all understanding”  is a gift from God that needs our continuous attention; so that we can experience it daily.  The worry or anxiousness mentioned in v6, which we confront in part through prayer, is a peace robber.  Why?  Because anxiety is not an object, it is a state of mind.  So, anxiousness takes the space in which peace once held.  It’s a kind of turf war within the mind.  How do we fight against it?  In part, by meditation which, if you remember, means to consider, take account, weigh.    Think about certain things as opposed to other things.  He gives us a list of which we will find only three, which are, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just.  When we quench our minds with such things, “the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

I think it is safe to say that most, if not all, want to experience a peace that is not so easily derailed by life’s experiences.  Tranquility that to the world doesn’t make any real sense.  We feel a calmness through Christ and is, to some extent, maintained by what we choose to think about daily.  So if peace is alluding to you today, maybe what needs to happen is that you renew your commitment to meditate on those things God knows is best for you.  Peace be with you this day.

Dennis

As Christians, we marvel at all that Christ has done for us through his sufficient work.  The apostle Paul speaks of how we have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  Because of His work on the cross and our belief in Him, we can walk in confidence knowing we “have eternal life” (1^stJohn 5:13).  Now that we have eternal life, God calls us to transformation (Romans 12:2), to be imitators of Him (Ephesians 5:1); which means, He is not done with us.   God wants to equip us “with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen” Hebrews 13:21).  That equipping comes, in large part, through the work of His word. His word makes us “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2^ndTimothy 3:17).

Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an

inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

                                                                                                                                           Joshua 1:6

As I think about this, in light of our new theme concerning meditation, my mind draws me to Joshua and the epic story of God’s people taking possession of the Promised Land.  The setting of the verse above is both tragic and inspiring. Sad because Moses has died and will not be able to enter the land of his people, which God was giving them.  Inspiring because God’s promise to His people was right in front of them: they only needed to walk in faith.  Their new leader, Joshua, is urged to be “strong and of good courage.”  If you were to read down through vv1-6, you would find several promises from God.  But God also yearns for His people to listen to His direction, so He exhorts Joshua saying, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8).  If you were to keep reading, you would find that both prosperity and success were, at least in part, dependent upon this very thing.

I understand, more now than ever before in my walk, that we are not under the law…period.  My performance does not (thankfully) dictate my relationship with God, for Jesus took care of the obstacle that robs one of peace.  Here is a question though, “Does God’s grace displayed in full through Christ, somehow eliminate one’s need to earnestly seek after His ways, His character, His likeness?”  According to 2^nd Peter 1:2-11, that very grace so lovingly offered is supposed to be the reason behind our desire to grow in Christ.

Meditation was a tool which Joshua was encouraged to use to help him and the rest of God’s people, stay on track, enabling them to reach their destination. Christians unshackled from the Old Law through the redemptive work of Christ, like those of old, want to know His will for them as they also journey homeward.  If it was helpful to them, then it will be beneficial to us.  Help us, Lord, as we grow in our understanding of meditating on Your word.

Dennis