Feb 07

In pride, man naturally professes his love for God and vows to serve him. That is what the Israelites did after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They stood before Joshua and proclaimed adamantly, "We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God" (Josh. 24:18).

But Joshua replied, "You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God" (v. 19).

Are you still trying to serve God by your own efforts at obeying his law, or are you trusting what Jesus did on the cross to save you?

Joshua frequently serves as an Old Testament prefiguring of Christ. In his farewell address to the people, Joshua told them virtually the same thing that Jesus told Simon the Pharisee, that no one can really serve God until he becomes aware of his sinful nature and his inability to serve God in holiness. Then love springs up in response to God's forgiveness of sins and cleansing of the heart, so that that heart can indeed love God.Awareness is the key factor.

The Word of God, the Bible, is one of the main means by which this awareness comes. The Bible declares to me God's law. The law itself is not evil because it is deadly to me. It produces death in me because I am not able to handle its holiness and purity, which comes from the holiness and purity of the One who gave it. It is not the law and its nature that is at fault, but me and my nature.

Scripture for today: 2 Cor. 13:5, 6
Thought for today: An unexamined heart is not worth having; an unexamined life is not worth living.
Prayer for today: Help me, Lord Jesus. Examine my heart, change it, renew it, make it like yours, full of love for the Father. Amen.

FEB 07