Day 24: Final Thoughts
So here we are, the final day of our Moving Forward devotions! Having finished the final chapter of Joshua yesterday, all that’s left is for us to reflect on how we respond to all that we’ve received.
The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
So this means that everything we read throughout scripture can help us. It can develop us, train us and equip us for the work that God is calling us to.
We all have a calling to serve God. Each calling is different, each person is unique, but what we share together as followers of Christ is that we are called to be active in our faith. We’re called to move forward, not to stay, not to settle, and certainly never to go backwards.
In the final chapter of Joshua we have read of Joshua gave powerful reminder to the people of Israel. He reminded them of Gods faithfulness throughout the generations. How he had called Abraham, how he had raised up Moses to lead them out of slavery, how God had provided miracles for them and always walked with them. The reason Joshua gives this powerful reminder, is some of the people had started to settle. They’d started to become comfortable with their circumstances, and lose sight of the calling upon them.
One of my favourite verses in scripture is the final statement of Joshua 24:15
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!”
It’s a rousing declaration of faith!
That in the midst of knowledge that some people are turning their backs on God. Some people are losing their desire to serve. Some people are becoming so consumed with themselves, that they are losing sight of their calling, but Joshua is as secure as ever in his purpose and passion; he’s here to serve God!
Joshua’s leadership and the journey of the Israelites that we’ve studied through this series should be both an inspiration and a challenge to each of us.
How are we following God’s calling in our lives?
How are we serving God, in order to see his Kingdom advance in our world?
Many people before (Numbers 32:13) and sadly many people in the future, (Judges 2:10) lost sight of God and lost sight of their calling to be servants of Gods purposes. They took their eyes off the Lord and lived for themselves. But the Joshua generation was different! They sought God. They served his plan and they saw his blessing.
Let’s be a Joshua generation!
Let’s move forward together!
Ps Ben Dowding
Senior Pastor