Read
Joshua Ch 18: 1-3
The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.
So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?
Think
Israel have fought their way into the land promised to them by God. The country has been ‘brought under their control’ – and part of the land has been divided up. It sounds satisfying, but marks a very dangerous moment for the people. There’s still fighting to be done, still locals to deal with who will otherwise be a thorn in the Israelites’ side or lead them astray from God.
“How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?”
This is the moment to press the advantage and take the complete victory! Don’t slack off now, the job isn’t done yet. What Joshua wants is for the people to take seriously the work ahead of them – work that may tire them out, but in every battle he will give them victory by his almighty power, he will give them strength to go on, he will give them rest each day as they turn to him, and better rest still when the work is finished.
And for us? God has done wonderful things for us a church over the years. Surely we can put our feet up for a bit?
The apostle Paul had worked just as hard as any for Jesus by the time he wrote to the church in Philippi – yet he says this is Philippians 3:12-14
…not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Dear friends, it’s alright to feel weary. It’s alright to feel worn out from family and work and virus and illness and everything else. In Jesus we have the brother who meets us in our weariness and understands (as Adam said, Jesus the sleepyhead!). In him we have the one who gives us rest from our labour each day, and the promise of perfect rest when we see him. A rest that will be all the more satisfying if we held our nerve to the end.
And we also have the one who sees what is possible if we will lean fully into him – the tough coach who pushes and pushes to help us see there’s more in us than we knew, and far more that he can and will supply. There’s land yet to take, a kingdom to advance and many in need of the hope only he can provide.
In Jesus we have rest each day, and the promise of true and ultimate joy at the end of the race. Keep straining towards what is ahead with all the strength that he so faithfully gives. Sometimes that looks like taking a day off in the garden or a holiday, and sometimes it looks like hard labour. Sometimes it looks like a lie in, and sometimes it looks like getting up extra early. Trust him, get to know him, and let him help you get the balance right. Keep encouraging one another, looking our for each other and carrying one another’s burdens as I know you are.
God bless you, and may we see no less than the full extent of the land God desires to give us.
Pray
Father, hallowed be your name! May we see more clearly who you are, how perfect and powerful and pure, and through us may many others see the same.
Please would you give us wisdom to live well – to live for the long haul, to strain for the prize, to have our hopes so firmly set in heaven that a few more decades of hard work here seems like a small thing compared with the weight of glory that is stored up for us in your presence.
Would you help us to know when to rest and when to work, when to feast and when to fast, when to run and when to lie down. And as we go at your pace, with all the strength you so powerfully work in us, would you build your church in Great Yarmouth just as strong and as healthy as you desire. We know that you will continue to amaze us.
Amen!
