Topic: Possessing Your Possession [DCLM Daily Manna 12 April 2019 Daily Devotional]
Text: Joshua 18:1-10 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you” (Joshua 18:3).
MESSAGE:
The children of Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, were beginning to settle in the Promised Land. Five of the twelve tribes of Israel already had their allotments. These were Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh on the East of Jordan, while Judah, Ephraim and the other half tribe of Manasseh was settled on the West. It now remained seven smaller tribes to receive their possessions. This was why the camp, as well as the tabernacle, was shifted from Gilgal to Shiloh which seemed to be a more central location.
The text reveals how, after two years or more, Joshua blamed the rest of the tribes for slackness, fear and laziness. He therefore encouraged and stirred them up to move on into their inheritance. He sent off men to survey the remainder of the land and divided into seven portions by lot. He drew out lots to decide which area each tribe would possess.
As believers, the Spirit of God constantly stirs us up not to think we can rest until we possess our heavenly possession, the spiritual Canaan. Many believers who have completed their earthly race have gone to heaven to be with the Lord. The rest of us who are still remaining on earth are not to be slack, lazy or timid like the remaining seven tribes of Israel. We would strive until we get to heaven either by rapture or death.
No wonder Apostle Paul declared plainly that he would not count himself to have apprehended, but rather forgets those things which are behind and reaches forth to those things which are ahead (Philippians 3:13). Christians are to forget their past failures, disappointments and shortcomings and forge ahead.
Thought For The Day: Christians, seek not repose.
The Bible In One Year: Acts 9-10
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
