Thursday, February 03, 2011

Remember

Joshua 3:12-17 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

This is an amazing story of faith. The priests had to get their feet wet BEFORE God cut off the water. What did the Israelites have to go on?
1. God's Word told them what they were to do
2. Their knowledge of God's past faithfulness

That is no different than today. What do we have to go on?
1. God's Word
2. Our knowledge of God's past faithfulness to Israel and ourselves

When your faith wobbles or is challenged, do you intentionally remember? Do you call to mind the evidence of God's faithfulness in the Bible (these are great faith growers) and the evidence of God's faithfulness to you in the past?

Remember. Remember. Remember.

I so love this story of God's faithfulness and the faith of His people that it is the name of the Bible Study several of us wrote. "Crossing the Jordan: Living Victoriously in the Midst of Adversity." Here is an excerpt from the Introduction:
The title Crossing the Jordan: Living Victoriously in the Midst of Adversity, was chosen because it beautifully depicts the life of freedom that awaits those who choose to get their feet wet and to cross from the wilderness into the land of promise. Just like the Israelites, as you choose to step out in faith to move from your wilderness wanderings to lay hold of the Promised Land in your life, God will go with you. He will empower you moment-by-moment to lay claim to the promises of freedom and hope awaiting you on the other side of the Jordan.

Thanks to generous friends of the ministry this Bible Study will soon be in print. It has been a long time coming and we are excited to see this dream become a reality.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:9
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,

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