God Always Keeps His Promises
Text: Joshua 18:1 Theme: God delivered on his promise to give the Israelites the promised land. Key verse: “The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control.” (v. 1) What God said to me: Dwayne, I always come through. My will and plan will not be thwarted. This single verse is so short that it is easy to run on past it and miss the awesome report it gives. There was a time years before this tiny verse that my people were slaves in a foreign land. There was a time just a few years before this when my people wandered in a desert wondering if they would ever see the “promised land” (which, in fact, that particular generation did not get to see because of their sinfulness.) There was a time some months before this when my people faced a huge rushing river that threatened their entry into their new land. There was a time only weeks earlier when my people were still fighting wicked kings and powerful enemies. Yet, now we come to this little verse that says so succinctly: “The land was brought under their control.” Dwayne, that is the miracle only I could bring to these, my precious people. You are living in your promised land. You have daily peace and joy. You are filled with my Spirit. Yet, there are still areas or inheritance that have not been brought under your control. You have not yet realized and experienced all that I have for you and your family and your ministry. Hold on. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Have faith in me. Stay faithful and humble. The day is coming when you will gather your family and friends and celebrate the awesome blessings I have given to you. You will, in essence, build a meeting and rallying place where future generations can come and discover afresh my greatness and my faithfulness to my promises. What I said to God: Holy Lord, Yahweh, my Redeemer, I love and adore You. I lay my life before You. Thank you for being a promise-keeping God. You are both able and loving enough to come through on every promise You make to Your children. Help me stay focused on the ministry You have given to me. Empower me to live every day in light of Your imminent return. I surrender my life and my will to You today and look forward to that day when all You have planned and promised us comes into full view.