Topic: Israel’s Commitment
Text: Joshua 1:16-18
What is commitment? Commitment is a pledge or promise. It is an ongoing decision to stick to things no matter what is happening. We must know that, although Canaan is just in-sight, it requires a great deal of commitment to get there. Joshua is quite aware of this. Without a commitment to God, it is hard to make it to Canaan, our long-awaited destination.
v16: They Commit to A Life of Surrender
These people make their stand with the Lord. They promise absolute obedience and surrender to the will of God. This is the only way spiritual victory will come to any life. There must be total and absolute surrender of every area of life to the will of God and to His divine leadership. Anything less hinders the work of God in your life and mine. Too often, we are like the men described in Luke 9:57-62. God’s will be that we surrender our will and follow Him.
v17: They Commit to A Life of Submission
These men also promised to follow the leadership of God’s man. Just as they had followed Moses, they committed themselves to following Joshua! While I believe that there is a certain amount of authority invested in the pastoral office, and that the people of God ought to follow the man of God as he follows God’s will for the church, there is a higher authority that every person must acknowledge. We are to submit to the leadership of God. May I remind you that every single child of God is a slave! When you got saved, you became the property of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Therefore, you have no right! You have no privileges! You have no claim to anything that allows you to make decisions for yourself. Your entire duty could be summed up in one word: Submit. Canaan is only for those who are subject to the will of God!
v18: They Commit to A Life of Separation
Finally, the people commit themselves to separating from those in their midst who refused to comply with the commandments of the Lord. And, their separation was so strong that they vowed to put to death anyone who rebelled against the leadership of Joshua. These people knew that allowing rebellion in their midst was a sure way to guarantee defeat.
Again, the lesson for us is clear today. If we want to enter Canaan, we must practice separation. We should separate from anything that would prevent us from making it to the promised land. It may be that certain people that have to go. It may be that certain activities have to be cut off. We may need to consider the way we dress, the way we talk, the things we watch and do, where we work, how we think or in any other area of life. If it is a hindrance, then it must go, Heb. 12:1. Paul – Phil. 3:7-11. You know what is holding you back. If heaven is your priority, then you must remove all obstacles. Jesus said, “And if thy right hand offends thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matt 5:30)
Conclusion
Canaan Land is just in sight. All that remains is to march in. While it is ours, it is not cheap. There is a price to pay. (Gal 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”)
A Song
I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
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