“But take diligent heed to… love the LORD your God; and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Joshua 22:5).
TEXT — Joshua 22:1-10
Message
”When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” is a saying attributed to Saint Ambrose centuries ago. A woman and her son consulted Ambrose when they planned to visit Rome. He told them the Romans observed Saturday as a fast day. Those who travelled to the city were also expected to comply with that culture. So, he advised the two to do as the Romans did. That led to the saying about following the way of the Romans when in their territory.
But there is a clear warning to followers of the Lord not to drop their Christian conduct for other practices as we move from place to place, either during missionary expeditions or in our secular engagements. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were returning to the land allotted to them after faithfully helping to secure the territories of the other tribes. Joshua sternly admonished them not to drop their godly comportment for the sinful traditions of where they were heading. They must not do as the Romans do, as it were.
Changes in profession, residential addresses, or marital status must not be allowed to displace our love for the laws of Christ. As faithful believers, we are eternally bonded to Him and His commandments. These laws moderate our lifestyles, whether we are married or not and whether we reside in temperate or tropical regions. We are to be masters over these external conditions by putting Christ first in all that we do. In other words, we should be able to say, like the Apostle Paul, that we can do all things through Christ, who empowers us to overcome all circumstances.
Believers, therefore, must not apportion to themselves so-called comfort zones, where they become tin gods and are unreceptive to changes that immensely benefit the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We must be ready to conform to changes as the Spirit leads. We must welcome challenges as stepping stones to new territories to be conquered for our Master. And as we move, we must go with unflagging zeal demanded by the Lord.
Thought for the day
Dislocations and relocations test the strength of our convictions.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
So wonderful to be here LORD