For His Glory
“But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—‘You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.’”
Today’s Text: Joshua 17:14-18 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
As it turns out, this extra allotment of land for the tribes of Joseph is never mentioned again. Either they did not engage in a campaign to take the land or they did but were unable to secure it. In other words, they never get that extra allotment.
While the Manassites, especially the Makirites, initially demonstrated godliness in their approach towards their inheritance, somehow their attitude changed when colluding with their brothers. The tribes of Joseph exhibited arrogance, greed, a spirit of entitlement, a complaining spirit, and ultimately a lack of faith in God.
Not only were they not satisfied with the lot that was drawn for them (a lot that was determined by God), they did not have faith that God would go before them and fight for them. Of course, they were right. God would not go before them, given their attitude.
It is true that God wants to fill the earth with His glory in Jesus’s name through God-fearing, God-honoring, God-worshiping, God-loving communities and families, the church. It is also true that God will go before us to fight our spiritual battles when we go forth in faith and in obedience to His will and His ways. But if we ever go forth apart from His will and His ways, according to our own will and our own ways, we can be sure that our Lord Jesus will not go with us and not go before us.
The Scriptures give us understanding and wisdom on such matters. What is God’s will and God’s ways?
Faith in Christ fosters humility, unity, thankfulness, patience, a spirit of sacrifice for others, a spirit of generosity and hospitality. A church built upon those values because of our satisfaction in Christ will be a powerful church that is filled with the Spirit of God. Wherever such a church goes, it will be SUCCESSFUL (A+++, 5.9 GPA) in GLORIFYING GOD IN JESUS’S NAME.
Such a church will please God and receive waves upon waves of mercy and grace, showers upon showers of love, joy, and peace, because our hope is in Christ alone.
Such a church will be the instrument of much, much fruit, the fruit of witness and the fruit of service and the fruit of salvation for many.
Such a church will glorify God through its love and its witness, and the Lord will be with them. And the Lord will give us whatever we ask and seek, because all that we ask and seek will be for His glory, knowing that His glory will result in our greatest blessing—the shalom of God!
I so much want to be such a church, don’t you?
Father, Your ways are perfect. Your ways lead to blessing and joy and peace. Why do we keep seeking our own ways and wonder what’s wrong with the world. Make us, make Canvas and GCC, an instrument of Your glory. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
