Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Faith Community to be reformed by the Word of God

Joshua 3:1-17
Vs 5 Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, because tomorrow the Lord will perform miracles among you.
 

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, because the LORD will do wonders among you tomorrow.". The Hebrew word for consecrate means "to prepare, to dedicate, to be hallowed, to be holy, to be separate or set apart." God was telling His people that if they were going to cross the uncrossable and follow the will of the Lord, they must be set apart to Him. They must be holy. This involves basically two things. Personal repentance of every known sin and putting oneself on spiritual alert to see God at work
One of the primary reasons Israel found their way blocked, and one of the reasons we find ours often blocked, is sin. Isaiah the prophet wrote, "Indeed, the LORD's hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen. (Isaiah 59:1,2)
On the eve of one of the greatest days in their history, Israel was commanded to be certain they were right with God--to examine their lives, confess and forsake sins, and devote themselves wholly to the Lord. Joshua stressed the importance to sanctify the people , because he knew God would perform miracles.We each have a Jordan River that must be crossed and usually more than once. Our life of faith is a series of water crossings. To cross the uncrossable we must take time to sanctify ourselves by setting us apart from all worldly pleasures and distractions and taking the time to read, meditate and know the will of God.
Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust him and move ahead. While he wants to supernaturally intervene in the difficulties and challenges of our everyday lives, he can't until we first demonstrate faith by walking forward on the path of obedience.

PRAYER
Create a pure heart in me , O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me, Amen 
(Psalms 51:10)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
As we keep our eyes on and follow behind our victorious Lord and Savior, the river of impossibility will dry up

Anish George Thomas, Mar Thoma Church of Greater Washington
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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