| “Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.” – Joshua 9:14 |
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| Running Ahead of the Lord, acting like an Atheist Are you a practicing atheist? You may be a little taken aback by the question. I won’t apologize though for asking as I am concerned (even for myself) that there are times we live life as if there is no God. We find ourselves facing decisions and while we have an available Advisor to acknowledge and to ask for His guidance we make the decision without any consultation with the One who is supposed to be in charge of our lives. In other words, we are living life as if there were no God. In reality, when we live this way we are practicing atheists. This idea of living life as if there is no God is the central theme of Joshua 9:14 They were facing a situation in which God needed to be involved. Going from one battle to another in order to take possession of the Promised Land they encounter the Gibeonites who are seeking to deceive the men of Israel. The men of Israel should have been acknowledging and asking God for His take on the situation. Joshua 9:14 makes this very indicting analysis as we read, “BUT they did not ask counsel of the LORD.” Being honest with yourself, I ask if “BUT THEY (YOU) DID NOT ASK COUNSEL OF THE LORD” is a true evaluation of how you are making your life decisions. Are you running ahead of the Lord in making decisions as you are relying on your own understanding? As believers, we are always to be acknowledging God and asking for direction from Him. Pastor James rebukes his readers in James 4:13-16 with this challenge about running ahead of God. These verse says, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” For the believer, we are to be putting Proverbs 3:5-6 into daily, yes, even hourly practice. In case you need a reminder it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Friends, Acknowledge the best ADVISOR in ALL your WAYS/decisions!!! Verse to DATE the Word on September 14 (9/14) is Joshua 9:14. It says, “Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.” It is not good to be out of step with the Lord. You don’t want to be falling behind and you don’t want to be running ahead. To be in step with the Lord is to WALK WITH THE LORD after WAITING ON THE LORD! Continue Strong acknowledging the Lord in ALL your ways/decisions! And remember to DATE the Word! |