Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Foundry Publishing of the Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Monday, 19 November 2018 "While You’re Waiting" by Stephanie Malcolm for Monday 19 November 2018 RG111918 Joshua 24:1-10

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Foundry Publishing of the Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Monday, 19 November 2018 "While You’re Waiting" by Stephanie Malcolm for Monday 19 November 2018 RG111918 Joshua 24:1-10
Joshua 24:1 Y’hoshua gathered all the tribes of Isra’el to Sh’khem; he summoned the leaders, heads, judges and officials of Isra’el; and they presented themselves before God. 2 Y’hoshua said to all the people, “This is what Adonai the God of Isra’el says: ‘In antiquity your ancestors lived on the other side of the [Euphrates] River — Terach the father of Avraham and Nachor — and they served other gods. 3 I took your ancestor Avraham from beyond the River, led him through all the land of Kena‘an, increased his descendants and gave him Yitz’chak. 4 I gave to Yitz’chak Ya‘akov and ‘Esav. To ‘Esav I gave Mount Se‘ir as his possession, but Ya‘akov and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moshe and Aharon, I inflicted plagues on Egypt in accordance with what I did among them, and afterwards I brought you out. 6 Yes, I brought your fathers out of Egypt: you arrived at the sea, and the Egyptians were pursuing your ancestors with chariots and horsemen to the Sea of Suf. 7 But when they cried out to Adonai, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, overwhelmed them with the sea and drowned them. Your eyes saw what I did in Egypt, and then you lived in the desert for a long time. 8 I brought you into the land of the Emori living beyond the Yarden; they fought against you, but I handed them over to you. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them ahead of you. 9 Then Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo’av, rose up and fought against Isra’el. He sent and summoned Bil‘am the son of B‘or to put a curse on you. 10 But I refused to listen to Bil‘am, and he actually blessed you. In this way I rescued you from him. (Complete Jewish Bible).
No one enjoys waiting. Whether at the doctor’s office, at the grocery store, or waiting for a bus, it isn’t usually a fun time. How impatient we become when we are forced to wait! We are a people used to quick answers and fast solutions. Can you imagine the Israelites waiting forty years before being able to enter the land that God had promised them?
To ensure their faithfulness in the years ahead, Joshua reminded the people what God had done for His children in past generations. God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God had been faithful to His promises; now Joshua challenged the people to be faithful as they moved forward into the promised land. God’s people were called to remember the faithfulness of God.
Have you been waiting for God to fulfill a promise He made to you? It may seem like a long time, but look back over the years. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past will help you to trust Him with the future. God's steadfast love is never changing and will be tha same today, tomorrow, and beyond.
Hymn for Today: "I Am His, and He Is Mine" by George W. Robinson
1. Loved with everlasting love,
led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
you have taught me it is so.
O what full and perfect peace,
joy and wonder all divine!
In a love which cannot cease
I am his, and he is mine.
2. Heaven above is softer blue,
earth around is richer green;
something lives in every hue,
Christless eyes have never seen:
songs of birds in sweetness grow,
flowers with deeper beauties shine,
since I know, as now I know,
I am his and he is mine.
3. His for ever, his alone!
Who the Lord from me shall part?
With what joy and peace unknown
Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heaven and earth may pass away,
sun and stars in gloom decline,
but of Christ I still shall say:
I am his and he is mine.
Thought for Today: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, he is patient with you; for it is not his purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from his sins. (2 Peter 3:9).
Please pray: For the leaders who cast vision for today's ministry and strategies for the future work in Mesoamerica.
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