Continuation of the Weekly Word… [5.6.21]
Joshua 6:15-16: On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!
Sometimes faith causes you to act without seeing. It will also at times demand that you respond without first seeing a result. In Joshua chapter 6, the Lord tells Joshua something very strange. He tells him that He has given him Jericho before he ever obeys the first command. In verse 2 He says, “See, I have given Jericho into your hands, along with its kings and its fighting men.” He had, but He hadn’t. You see God knows everything, sees everything and He can do anything. And, this, by the way is where our faith should always begin. It should begin in whom God is and in what Gods says and in what God is capable of doing. Remember, God is always already there! He is all powerful and He is all knowing and He can do anything! Anyway, back to the story. God tells Joshua that He has delivered Jericho into his hands when in fact, the city was still fortified, the kings were still on their thrones, the armies were still inside the walls and they were still armed for battle and, the walls were still standing. Joshua, the priests, the trumpet players and the people still had to march around the walls once each day for six days blowing the trumpets and carrying the ark of the covenant without muttering a word and with nothing visibly happening in the natural or on the outside that could be seen. Sometimes you may be required to move in faith before you see the result that is being desired. Nevertheless, on the seventh day they carried the ark, they blew the trumpets and they marched seven times around the city, but on the seventh time around, instead of remaining silent and returning home – they shouted! And, as you know, the walls came tumbling down and victory was theirs for the taking. I want to encourage you today to be obedient. I want to admonish you to keep believing and to keep marching and to stay in faith – even when you don’t see what you are believing for. If God said it – it will happen. And you can shout today like it already has!!!
Prayer: Father, today I pray for everyone that is reading this. I pray that you be with them. I pray that you will strengthen and establish their faith in a new way today. I pray that you will encourage them. I pray that you will bless them. I pray that they will find a faith and confidence to move in obedience even when they don’t see the evidence of anything tangible taking place. I pray that their faith will be strengthened and that they will be renewed and refreshed today in their faith! In Jesus name, Amen.
Main Thought for the Week: Faith is powerful and faith is the beginning of all things! Without faith it is impossible to please God. The beginning of faith and the beginning of pleasing God is believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those that earnestly seek Him. So, does faith really matter? Yes it does! And whom and what you put your faith in matters just as much. I want you to know today that you can put your faith in God, because He is faithful!
