Nougat 5

As we reflect on God’s Be and Do to Joshua, please receive today’s Holy Nougat

““Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Be Intentionally Obedient

In taking over the mantle of leadership for the establishment of a new country from Moses, Joshua needed a roadmap to follow. God’s advice was for Joshua to obey the Law handed down from God via Moses to the Children of Israel. It is possible that he was also supposed to adhere to the leadership plan Moses would have shared with him.

For some of us, following instructions can be challenging. Especially if it’s on an ongoing basis. We may follow a recipe step by step the first time round, but after that …! On the other hand, we are open to obeying the law of the land, although we don’t necessarily take the time to read the national constitution. (Ironically, we sometimes miss out on benefits because we are not fully aware of our rights).

As believers in Jesus, our citizenship is in Heaven (see Philippians 3:20-21), although we currently live in the earthly realm. And if we understand ourselves as citizens of Heaven, then it is important that we know and obey the Law of our Land. We find the ‘Law’ in God’s Word.

David puts it aptly, ’I hide Your Word in my heart so that I won’t sin against You.’ That’s what being intentionally obedient to God is. We learn God’s constitution and follow it, so that it guides us in all we do, just as Joshua was guided. God’s Word can be applied as good ethical practice for community and individual life.

Jesus tells us that the two most critical commandments to obey are Loving God with our Everything and Loving our Neighbor as we love ourselves. That’s the key. And now that Jesus has come, we seek to be obedient to what Jesus has taught us – also in God’s Word.

Being intentionally obedient is doable. Let’s do it!

—

May all we seek be found in Christ