Title Complete Obedience
Contents
Hymn: Chapter 197
Meditation: God requires 100% complete faith. We need a faith that responds to God's demands, breaking away from the self-centered faith that we judge to be sufficient from our standpoint.
Confession of Faith: Apostles' Creed
Text: “But the livestock and the spoils of the city were taken by Israel, as the LORD commanded Joshua” (Joshua 8:18-27).
Word: The Battle of Ai Castle is not a very important battle in terms of scale or strategy. Nevertheless, it is explained quite long in Chapters 7 and 8. This is because the battle of Ai is a real example that teaches that the victory of Israel is completely with God. The great victory in the battle of Jericho made Joshua and his people misunderstand that they had won by their own power, and Achan, who disobeyed God's strict command, was born. The appearance of Achan should be viewed as representing the spiritual condition of the time. It is a scene that shows the ignorance of humans who hold on to God's pants and pray earnestly in difficult times and then turn it into their own balls when things go well. So, the defeat of the Battle of Ai is an important story for Israel and for us living today.
Look at Joshua preparing for war. We cannot find him praying with all his heart, relying on God's power or longing for His grace. Just because the opponent is weak does not mean that they do not need the power of God. Saints must rely on God's power from beginning to end. In everything, we must kneel before God with prayer and supplication. Joshua learned this truth through the failure of the battle of Ai. We must pray for small things, and we must pray for big things. We must depend on God morning and night.
Pride inevitably breeds disobedience. Achan's lies and disobedience show Israel's pride. If you are proud, you will inevitably fail, and if you humbly kneel in prayer and go out, you will always win. Joshua took Achan's case seriously and stoned him to death in front of all the people. This brutal execution became a powerful serial of God and Joshua to the people. One mistake is enough.
Paul taught in the Philippians to be true, holy, and perfect in everything. We tend to be moderately loyal, obedient, and devoted. The life of faith must be done with peace of mind. We must strive to become a thorough family in discovering and obeying God's will. I hope that you will become a family that will throw away your hidden sins and remaining pride and follow God purely.
Prayer: Living Father God, take away our pride and lust, and give us complete obedience to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Lord's Prayer