Another Saturday! There just is something about the weekend, even if you are retired, or if you have to work on the weekend. It’s still, somehow, special. I started my weekend in the Emergency Room, being scanned for blood clots. Praise God, there are none. So, this post is a little later in the day than usual.
Today we read Joshua chapters 15-18.
Get off your donkey
There are three points to explore in this section of verses: In Chapter 15:18, Caleb’s daughter asked for a field. It says, “when she got off her donkey. Caleb asked her, ‘What can I do for you?’” The Bible teaches we don’t have because we don’t ask. (see James 4:2).
We always wanted our son to know the value of the things he had. I was fortunate to provide him with many things I lacked growing up. People who receive something free, even something valuable, will not cherish it as much as if they had earned it. So, we always made a stipulation that he had to earn what we were giving him.
If it was a birthday or Christmas gift, he still had to take care of it and do things to maintain access. If his grades dropped, he would lose those privileges.
Aksah requested the field because her marriage was arranged, but she still had to “get off her donkey”. She had to put in some effort so that Caleb could then provide the field.
God is a better father than I could ever be. He wants His children to have good things and enjoy life, but we have to be putting in effort so that we can appreciate what He is giving us.
Salvation is not about works
Don’t assume that our works will earn us salvation. That is a free gift. Still, we must ask for it and show that we value it. We do this by repenting of the sins we were involved with and seeking Him. When we ask and repent, we receive that forgiveness.
I also like Caleb’s question, “What can I do for you?”
When I was publishing Tucson Parent Magazine, I had been making some effort, providing free space for churches to list their programs for families, etc. But I was praying every night for God to help the magazine because it was dying from lack of advertisers.
One night, as I was praying, I could feel Jesus at the foot of my bed. It is hard to explain. I wasn’t seeing a vision or anything profound. But, I felt He was sitting there, listening to me.
I stopped my prayer, and the Holy Spirit guided me to change the words I was saying. Instead, I asked Him, “Lord, what can I do for you?”
He has been blessing me with opportunities to serve Him since.
We shut down the magazine. Its continuation was not His will. I’m alright with that. His will is all I seek.
Never satisfied
Verse 17:14 shows us that no matter what you give, there will always be some people who want more. It is frustrating that you can never please them. If you show you can exceed every demand, they will continue to escalate the request to see what that boundary is.
This is human nature. God gives us so much, but we always are looking at what other people have and wondering why He gives them more. Coveting is a sin. We must be content with what He wants for us. (Heb 13:5)
The waiting is the hardest part
The third point today comes from 18:3. Joshua asks the Israelites, “How long will you wait?”. He is referring to moving into the land God had given them.
God has been offering you heaven. Eternal life is yours to be taken. He only asks that you repent and place your trust in Him. It is a simple thing, but giving away those sins makes it a challenge.
We will get off our donkeys and do the actions we believe He wants us to do. But we still hold on to those sins we know He wants us to give up.
Eternity begins the moment you make that choice. He will give you the power to repent. You just need to move into that land. Living people can move, dead people can not.
While you have life in you, let me ask again, “How long will you wait?”
