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Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Joshua 3:15 1/17/2023*

And it will come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, ...”

We have discussed this verse before, as part of a larger passage but it contains a concept that deserves its own devotional. God is telling His people that His plans usually require faith. In this case, a miracle is promised, but it will be triggered by the Priest stepping into the water. 

If you’re like me, you would prefer for the water to stop before taking the step… but that is seldom God’s way.  In most cases, even with a promise from God, we must get our feet wet. 

God wants faithfulness from His people… Trusting Him cannot be just one of many solutions you are considering. The Lord is interested in knowing if we are committed - or just assessing options.

There was no fallback position in this plan to cross the river. The Priests would have looked ridiculous standing knee deep in the Jordan if The Lord had not stopped the water… Declaring your trust in God is easier than stepping into the river, and He wants to see your faith, not just hear about it.

Am I willing to risk embarrassment,  or do I need a miracle before I move?  Will I risk looking foolish for God, or do I need a way to “save face” if God doesn’t deliver? 

Faith is only faith when you depend on it…. You may like a chair;  be impressed by its workmanship… You might even study the chairmaker …but you don’t have faith in the chair - until you sit in it. 

In the same way – you can be impressed by God, enjoy talking about Him, even study His history – but until you depend solely on Him for your salvation …. You haven’t demonstrated faith in God.

Being a Christian means I must be like the Priest walking out into the Jordan river with only two options ….drown or be rescued by the Lord.

Will I step in the river today…or do I plan to just stand here waiting for the water to stop?

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

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