How Deep Is Your Love
Jerry Watts
Joshua 23-24/Matthew 15
This week I experienced an ''Epiphany?'' How long has it been since you had one? Many know what an epiphany is or understand what it does, so for those who don't, in laymen's terms, an epiphany is an ''Ah-ha'' moment. It's a moment when some truth or concept becomes clearer than it ever has previously. Sometimes these are good, inspiring, and uplifting and other times not so much.
This one occurred while I was reading Joshua 23 and 24 for my quiet time. What I'd like to do is piece this together and make it make sense to us. The last two chapter of Joshua (23 and 24) gives Joshua's last word or his farewell address to the people who had followed him. In Chapter 23, he gives his retirement speech. You know Joshua's story. Here, he gives part retirement and part eulogy because he lets them know that his death is near, that he will be gone, and this is the normal order of things. He reminds them that ''God is as Good as His word.'' What he's attempting to do is huge. Like any leader who is leaving, he is trying to get this knuckle-headed people to focus their attention, affection, and action toward the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. While this crowd has shown a great commitment to Joshua, they have also demonstrated a small faith toward God. Joshua was afraid that when he stepped aside tragedy would come.
He implores them, begs them to follow God completely, with their all. He knows that if they do, God will continue to bless them. In the last verse of chapter 23, he gives them a sobering warning by saying, ''But if you break the covenant of God, have other gods in your life, put those gods in front of Him, YOU WILL QUICKLY DISAPPEAR FROM THIS GOOD LAND THAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU.'' (I could offer an American 21st century application of this story, but it would interrupt the thread or continuity of this story)
So, this is Joshua's message to His congregation that he will soon leave because of dea ...
Jerry Watts
Joshua 23-24/Matthew 15
This week I experienced an ''Epiphany?'' How long has it been since you had one? Many know what an epiphany is or understand what it does, so for those who don't, in laymen's terms, an epiphany is an ''Ah-ha'' moment. It's a moment when some truth or concept becomes clearer than it ever has previously. Sometimes these are good, inspiring, and uplifting and other times not so much.
This one occurred while I was reading Joshua 23 and 24 for my quiet time. What I'd like to do is piece this together and make it make sense to us. The last two chapter of Joshua (23 and 24) gives Joshua's last word or his farewell address to the people who had followed him. In Chapter 23, he gives his retirement speech. You know Joshua's story. Here, he gives part retirement and part eulogy because he lets them know that his death is near, that he will be gone, and this is the normal order of things. He reminds them that ''God is as Good as His word.'' What he's attempting to do is huge. Like any leader who is leaving, he is trying to get this knuckle-headed people to focus their attention, affection, and action toward the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. While this crowd has shown a great commitment to Joshua, they have also demonstrated a small faith toward God. Joshua was afraid that when he stepped aside tragedy would come.
He implores them, begs them to follow God completely, with their all. He knows that if they do, God will continue to bless them. In the last verse of chapter 23, he gives them a sobering warning by saying, ''But if you break the covenant of God, have other gods in your life, put those gods in front of Him, YOU WILL QUICKLY DISAPPEAR FROM THIS GOOD LAND THAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU.'' (I could offer an American 21st century application of this story, but it would interrupt the thread or continuity of this story)
So, this is Joshua's message to His congregation that he will soon leave because of dea ...
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