Church . . . Where are You?

4th in the series

In the last post, God had given Joshua a battle plan. Joshua and His people were to "Be strong and VERY courageous, meditate on God's Word, day AND night, and OBEY all that is written in it.

Throughout the Book of Joshua, we see that God is faithful to His promises. We see divine victories. This book is a testimony to a God who shows up when a people study His Word and put their faith in Him. When a people stand upon the Word of the Lord and step out in obedience. When we take our eyes off of the circumstances, and believe the One who calls us forth.

FAITH. Hebrews. A book written to call us towards living for Jesus. In faith.

Faith is defined as "the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

Church, are we walking in faith today? Or are we paralyzed by fear and trembling?

I challenge you to think deeply about these questions. We are living in times when evil seems to be winning BUT God. But God has called us to be a people of faith. A people set apart for His purposes.

Hebrews 11 gives us a list famous faith moments that the author has taken from the Old Testament:

• by faith, Abel brought God a better offering than Cain and was commended as righteous

• by faith Enoch was taken from this life and did not experience death

• by faith Noah built the ark, (in holy fear) to be as righteous unto God

• by faith Abraham would travel to a foreign land, living as a stranger to walk in God's will

• by faith, Sarah, well past the age of childbearing, would have a baby, to fulfill God's promises that Abraham's descendants would be "as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore"

• by faith Abraham, when tested by God, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God

• by faith God's people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, when the Egyptians attempted to do that, they were drowned.

• by faith the walls of Jericho fell

• by faith the prostitute Rahab, welcomed and hid the spies

All of these cirumstances above required God's children to step out in faith. To walk in obedience. To stand upon His principles.

Oh, Sarah may have laughed at the angel's words that she would bear a child, but God made the impossible, possible.

Abraham likely questioned God as he was told to sacrifice his only son-a son which represented the fulfillment of God's promise that Abraham's descendants would be as the grains of sand on the oceans floor. But he was obedient.

I'm sure after the 5th time of marching around the walls of Jericho, some may have questioned the strange request of God. But they marched on, one foot after the other in obedience and faith.

After listing these instances of faith, the author of Hebrews acknowledges that there were many more examples that he could have given. The mouths of lions were shut. The fury of the fiery flames were quenched. Dead bodies were raised to life.

Hebrews tells us that by faith people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received God's promises.

What faith would it take for us, the Body of Christ, to step forth and stand on Biblical Principles? Would it take faith to seek God's face and then enter the voting booth?

What will happen if we don't? We are seeing much evil in the world today.

At times I feel so small. Personally I'm disappointed in the Church today. I've had to repent for the many years I stood on the side of apathy, busyness and trusting our governmental leaders. Many of my writings reflect the turmoil inside of me. The struggle between acceptance and truth. The cost of being different.

Not one of us can discern the hearts of our leaders. Nor should we condemn the ones that God has put over us. God calls us to pray for all those in authority. (I Timothy 2:1)

We can pray for hearts turned toward the one true God. We can repent for our part. We can seek His face instead of the rambling of the media outlets. We can follow the instruction that God gave to Joshua; "Be strong and courageous. Meditate on the Book of Law, study it day and night. Be obedient to God. Be strong and VERY courageous."

(Joshua 1:, 6, 7, 9, 18)

Will you join me in this, to pray for our state, country, leaders and world? May God have His way with each one of us. May He give us discernment when it comes to every evil sent our way. May He help us stand up for His ways and purposes. May He grow our faith as He did for those in the days of old.

Dear Jesus, we need you. We lift up our leaders to you and ask that you place a calling and purpose upon their lives to lead with godliness and in righteousness. But we also lift up your Church and ask that You would have Your way with us. Let us be bold. Let us stand for Your principles. Let us walk as ones who reflect Your love through and through. Let us be obedient to You alone. Let us not sway to the left or to the right but firmly plant us where you would have us stand. Jesus, we ask in your mighty name, seeking your face, wanting to see good prevail over evil once again. Amen.