Space-Filling Thoughts

Jordan River Valley.  Image from WikiMedia Commons Last week, we looked at Israel’s Great Commission and the expansive promises of God that gave them wings to fulfill it.  Today, we want to look at Joshua’s Believing Courage.  We noted that as Israel had a commission from God then, so does the church today, the Great Commission given to us by the Lord in Matthew 28, to make, baptize, and teach disciples.  And just as the promise to Joshua and all Israel was that the Lord would be with them in fulfillment of their commission, so the church has the promise of Christ’s presence to the end of the age. However, we must not think that the promise of God’s presence means that we have nothing to do.  There were times when God would tell his people to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.  But more often, it was as it is here: to rise and be doing.  These are not in opposition to one another.  God’s promise and grace is not in opposition to effort...