Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. (Jdg 1:27-30)
As Joshua departs and we move into the book of the Judges, we see that all is not as it should be. The people of GOD have not utterly cast out the people of the land, but subjugated them and made them servants and slaves. They have not removed their idolatrous practices and wickedness from the land, and will soon fall into a pattern of being drawn away from GOD by their sin and following the idolatry of their subjects and neighbours instead of the Commandments of GOD.
The pattern over and over in Israel's history demonstrates that too often when things are easy, and life is going according to our plan, we try to live as though we don't need GOD to provide and to lead us and we slip and backslide into sin and practical atheism. GOD will chastise us and do what it takes to bring us back to Him just as He did with the Israelites through the judges and deliverers He sent to Israel.
We ought not to try to live without Him, for without the Lord Jesus Christ we can do nothing, and without Him we are nothing, just as before we came to Christ we were dead in our trespasses and sins. It is not that we had to make room for Him in our life, but that He has given us a brand new life in Him and He in us, and we must live our lives in the flesh by the faith of the Son of GOD who loved us and gave Himself for us. We continue to reckon ourselves dead: to sin, to ourselves, and to this world, that we might live in Christ, under the direction of His Spirit and His Word, giving GOD all the glory for His work and will in us.
That's not to say that we are puppets, or slaves, but servants of the Most High GOD, not doing our will but His and His alone, completely surrendered to Him on His terms in all things because of our love for Him and our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place and for our sin. We serve Him as His ambassadors to this world, bringing the Word of reconciliation to those around us who are hurting and in need. We serve Him and one another as members one of another in the body of Christ in love and in discipleship in His Word until all have grown into the full measure of Him who is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We serve Him as His witnesses and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to take His Word and the Good News of forgiveness through repentance of sin and faith in Him and Him alone for eternal life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
The pattern over and over in Israel's history demonstrates that too often when things are easy, and life is going according to our plan, we try to live as though we don't need GOD to provide and to lead us and we slip and backslide into sin and practical atheism. GOD will chastise us and do what it takes to bring us back to Him just as He did with the Israelites through the judges and deliverers He sent to Israel.
We ought not to try to live without Him, for without the Lord Jesus Christ we can do nothing, and without Him we are nothing, just as before we came to Christ we were dead in our trespasses and sins. It is not that we had to make room for Him in our life, but that He has given us a brand new life in Him and He in us, and we must live our lives in the flesh by the faith of the Son of GOD who loved us and gave Himself for us. We continue to reckon ourselves dead: to sin, to ourselves, and to this world, that we might live in Christ, under the direction of His Spirit and His Word, giving GOD all the glory for His work and will in us.
That's not to say that we are puppets, or slaves, but servants of the Most High GOD, not doing our will but His and His alone, completely surrendered to Him on His terms in all things because of our love for Him and our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place and for our sin. We serve Him as His ambassadors to this world, bringing the Word of reconciliation to those around us who are hurting and in need. We serve Him and one another as members one of another in the body of Christ in love and in discipleship in His Word until all have grown into the full measure of Him who is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We serve Him as His witnesses and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to take His Word and the Good News of forgiveness through repentance of sin and faith in Him and Him alone for eternal life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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