Est. By God | The Book of Joshua
Resolved to Be a “Long-Haul” Follower
Committing to something for the “long-haul” means continuing to do something until it is finished. God has saved us to be long-haul followers of Christ, holding fast to the Lord our God, and serving Him with all of our heart and all of our soul. At the age of 110, Joshua gave the leaders of Israel some wise counsel that can help us to be long-haul followers.
Long-haul followers are resolved to:
1. Remember what they have witnessed the Lord do (vs. 1-3)
- Recalling what we have witnessed the Lord do fuels our devotion to the Lord for the long-haul (cf. Ps. 103:1-2)
- It is our responsibility to remember and testify to the next generation what we have witnessed the Lord do (cf. Josh. 4:1-7; Ps. 78:1-4)
Do your actions to this particular responsibility affirm that you are resolved to remember and share with others what you have witnessed the Lord do?
2. Remember God’s assurance of help (vs. 4-5)
- The confidence of a ‘long-haul follower’ rests in the assurance that God is their help (cf. Ps. 46:1; 54:4; 121)
- Both the Lord’s actions and His Word should boost our confidence in His help
Are you resolved to live in the assurance of the Lord’s help or are you choosing to be paralyzed by your fears? (cf. Php. 4:6-7)
3. Carefully live in obedience to God’s commands (vs. 6-13)
- The standard of obedience: be strong; be careful to obey all that is written, without turning to the right or to the left (cf. vs. 6)
- The form of obedience: remain set apart (cf. Dt. 14:2; 1 Pt. 1:13-16; 2:9-12); hold fast to the Lord your God (vs. 6-8)
- The motivation of obedience: the grace of God, the fear of God, and our love for God (cf. Jn. 14:21)
Are you resolved to be strong and carefully obey all the commands of God? How often do you find yourself turning aside to the right or to the left in disobedience? Your answer will be a good indicator of your resolve.
4. Remember that the Lord disciplines those He loves (vs. 14-16)
- God is faithful both in grace and in judgment (cf. Ps. 25:8-10; 116:5a)
- He demonstrates His love for us in that He pursues us even in our sin (cf. Prov. 3:11-12; Heb. 12:5-6)
Long-haul followers take seriously the certainty of God’s discipline (judgment) and are quick to confess their sin and repent, knowing that God loves them and will forgive them (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9). Are you resolved to remember that the Lord disciplines those He loves, and as a result are choosing to live carefully?
Be Resolved to be a ‘Long-Haul’ Follower of Christ in 2025!
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