Obedience Leads to Rest [Josh 11]

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Joshua 11

23So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes Thus the land had rest from war.

Joshua obeyed God's commands and did all just as God said. That obedience led to rest. Obedience still leads to God's rest today. However, obedience in these last days looks very different than it did then. We are still at war, but not with people.

2 Corinthians 10

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

 4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

 5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

 6and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.


 

The war I have to fight to find God's rest is in my mind against my fleshly thoughts. These need to be routed out and destroyed for me to have God's peace. It is a life long process that will yield much fruit and peace as I honestly and obediently surrender my fleshly ways to His ways by His amazing grace. Just as God was directing and going before Joshua and his army in defeating the enemy, God will direct and go before me as I keep looking to Him to guide me. All war is messy and miserable at the moment, but the peace that comes when the battle is won is what God desires for us all.


 

Colossians 3 comes to mind when I think of what this war looks like and how it is executed and won. 

Colossians 3

1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

 6For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,

 7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

 8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

 9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

 10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--

 11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

 17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

We praise You, God, that you have provided Jesus as our beacon in this dark world. We praise You that in His grace and wisdom we can courageously win the battles in our minds and walk in Your rest. Cause us to be willing to participate with You in the process of waging war against our fleshly ways and have the mind of Christ be strengthened in us. We can't, but You can!

Beth Warlick, 11/3/2010