Do Not Become Complacent

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Friday, March 27, 2020
Chapters: Joshua 16-18
Message: Do Not Become Complacent

Hello My Friend,

If we are honest with ourselves, we want things to come easy for us, and if we do not have to do much work to get them, well, then all the more better. After God created the heavens and earth in six days, He rested, so, He knows the importance of rest. What God does not want us to do is to become so restful that we get complacent. In other words, get lazy, and we do get lazy basking in all His blessings, sometimes even forgetting that there is much work to be done. You see, when we become complacent, temptations arise, and before you know it, we fall right into sin because we do not have that guard around us. I do believe that Christ is our anchor, the one who holds on to us, and keeps us from falling into sin, He may let us dangle there, but will keep us from plunging into it as long as we do not become complacent and stop serving Him all together. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” – II Corinthians 5:8-10.

This is not to say that we will lose our salvation should we fall into a life of sin after we are saved, we are saved by grace, not of works. This is to say that one may face a lot of more challenges and suffering while they are here until they repent or have suffered so much in that sin that God sees no other option, but to bring them home. You see, that is where our serving God keeps us busy so that we do not become complacent. The Israelites tirelessly took thirty-one cities. As you can imagine, those who remained had to have had some kind of fear for their lives. While they had some rest, Joshua divided the land, each tribe was to get rid of the people who were there. Yet very few did, when Joshua gave Ephraim and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh their portion, they would not remove the people.

And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel, And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth, And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea. So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance. And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.” – Joshua 16:1-4,9-10.

and serve under tribute.” This means that they paid and served them so that they would not be destroyed. We think that we are strong enough to handle the world in our own will, that we do not need to do everything God asks of us because we are saved. The truth is, our strength only comes from Christ, we can do nothing in our own strength. Why? Our flesh us weak, (Matthew 26:41). This is why we need to keep ourselves busy doing Gods work, if anything, praying and reading His Word every day, which will keep our minds from becoming complacent. Satan tempts us more when he knows we are complacent. In fact, he encourages us to just take what we are given from God, and not do anything for it since we are saved by grace. The Israelites thought that their strength was enough to subdue the Canaanites, and did not drive anymore out as they were commanded. This actually caused problems for the people of Ephraim and Manasseh as they were overcrowded. They go to Joshua complaining that he did not give them enough land.

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out. And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.” – Joshua 17:13-18.

when the children of Israel were waxen strong,” Again, we must understand that our strength comes from Christ, if attempt to live in the world, or allow them to live with us, without His strength to carry us through, we will be defeated, (Psalm 73:26). “then get thee up to the wood country,” Joshua is telling them that if they want more space to start knocking down trees, and go get the land, which was plenty. We must understand that while God promised us salvation by grace, and that we would get heaven no matter what, He did not promise easy street until we get there. And let me tell you, with so many of us staying home and not getting out while we deal with this pandemic, Satan is working overtime to get God’s people to become complacent in their time with God. Every day this week I have slept in, my focus is off, and it has taken me two days to work on a page, and I am still not done with it. While we are dealing with the mess, we must understand that Christ give us the grace and strength to get through it. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” – II Corinthians 12:8-10

Who wants infirmities? No one. Yet infirmities are what define us and conform us into the image of Christ through our faithfulness. Far too many faithful Christians lead defeated lives, settling for what they have handed to them rather than going after what God has waiting for them. We are not to live defeated lives, we belong to Christ, we already have the victory, Amen! Take pleasure in your infirmities, knowing that you belong to Christ, and break through that obstacle with Him. Now, many of the tribes still had not taken possession of their land yet, some of them content to remain with those who already had gotten theirs. Joshua gathers everyone together and fusses at them for not taking possession of their land.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. 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? Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me. And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh. And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.” – Joshua 18:1-4,8-10.

How long are ye slack to go to possess the land,” Are you slacking in receiving your inheritance of eternal life through Christ? It is time to take it. If you believe His sinless death, burial, and resurrection, and trusting in Him alone for your salvation then, your inheritance is awaiting you. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – I Peter 1:3-5.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You that our inheritance is not dependent upon our earthly parents, but by Your Son Jesus, who’s finished work on the cross made it possible. The second we believe in and receive Him as our Saviour, we are more than just saved from hell, we are born again, sons and daughter of Yours, and joint-heirs with Your Son. Amen! Thank You for the great sacrifice that You made so that I can become one of Yours, and for an amazing inheritance awaiting me as You prepare Your Kingdom for all of Your children. Jesus, You are my strength on this journey, You are the one who never leaves nor forsakes me, helps me do the work I need to do, and keeps me from becoming complacent. Lord, Lead me and guide me, let me walk in Your power and strength to face each day, let me not be afraid or lazy, give me the courage to walk by faith, and remove any disbelief and doubt that I have. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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