Not Just A Consumer

Background Story: God told Abraham hundreds of years before that He would take His people from a land where they were mistreated into the promised land (Genesis 15). After 430 years of slavery in Egypt and 40 years in the desert, Joshua is standing at the entrance ready to go in.

Read Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Big Idea: We mature from consumers to contributors.

God delivered the people of Israel from 430 of slavery in Egypt with signs, wonders, and miracles. Then He led them and provided for them in the desert for 40 years. They would wake up and God would move before them in a pillar of cloud or fire. Each day, God would feed them manna from heaven or send quail. Their clothes never wore out during this time. Their shoes remained in tact for 40 years. Like children, God led them, fed them, and provided for their every need throughout their journey in the desert.

But then they reached the edge of Canaan and everything changed! They were about the enter the promised land and it was time for their relationship with God to change. Before they had been consumers who needed to be led, fed, and the seas parted. But now… God was calling them to be active contributors. No longer did the fire or smoke go before them, but God went with them in their journey. No longer did He part the seas, He instructed them to walk 7 times around the city of Jericho before it fell. No longer did He feed them from heaven, but they had to go out and pick the fruit and plant the crops. They got to participate in their promise. And God instructed them in this next season to, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. “

How does this apply to us? When each of us first came to faith in Christ, we all started as consumers who were fed by others to help us grow strong in our relationship with God. But as we mature and move forward in the promises and plan of God, we must become contributors where we seek God for ourselves, read and dive into His word, meditating on it day and night. This will involve work where God reveals areas of brokenness in us and we work with Him to learn, heal, and grow. It will involve dependency where He asks us to step out in faith and we have to listen hard, pray, and seek to make sure we stay in step with Him. Of course, you’ll still listen to sermons and messages from others and be taught amazing truths. But to grow up and mature in your faith, you have to be an active participant learning from Him directly and overflowing His words to others. I encourage you… get a journal and start writing down verses that speak to you, areas of growth and weakness, and opportunities where you have the chance to share with others. Record the things He shows you and learn from His word. As you do, you will actively move into the promises, plans, and purposes of God for your life.

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Similar Devotions: What Is A Follower?, The Great Exchange, Our Part in the Story, Becoming Mature, God With Us, Becoming Less, Orange Sherbet

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