The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone.” [Joshua 24.24]
Wouldn't have been nice if it was true?
A lot of people say a lot of things. Much of what is said - what is committed - is simply a lie. Oh, I am relatively certain it wasn't intended to be a lie, but it was just the same.
Each of us needs to get the lies out of our lives. We need to deal with God for what He has shown us about ourselves - we need to be true to what He has called us to do. We need to live by faith and faith alone. We need to acknowledge our own ignorance of our capacity to lie, yes, to God, but to ourselves as well.
Again, I bet Israel had no intention of telling Joshua a lie. But it was a lie and the recorded history of the Old Testament proves it. Israel betrayed God over and again.
So, here is what this all makes me think. What have I committed to God? Have I made promises to God? Uh oh... everyone wants to talk about God's promises to us, but few wish to discuss our promises to God! Why? Because, left to ourselves, we are just liars. We are lairs because we do not possess the strength to make even our own words come to pass - let alone, God's.
Perhaps, it would be a good exercise for us to verbally acknowledge God's role in our ability to keep our word, like, "With God's help, I will do such and such"
Everyone loves to make proclamations as if they are something... "Oh, I tell you one thing, I will NEVER do that..." or "I WILL get it done..." But really, none of us is good for anything without the life and help of God - without the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It is God's strength and life that even keeps us alive. What makes us think we can do anything apart from Him?
Father, I have been proud and arrogant far too much. It is in You that I am able to do anything - there is nothing I am capable of on my own except sin.
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