CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Monday, April 18th, 2016
Joshua 16:1-18:28
Luke 19:1-27
Psalm 87:1-7
Proverbs 13:11
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1eZcoFE
Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day…. – Josh 16:10
Good leaders don’t run from problems; they run to them. The children of Judah failed to drive out their enemies from Jerusalem, so their enemies dwell there “to this day” (Joshua 15:63). The children of Ephraim failed to drive out their enemies from their territory, so their enemies dwell there “to this day” (Josh 16:10). Whenever God’s people failed to deal with a problem quickly and directly, it persisted much longer than they expected!
God gave His people an abundant inheritance and promised to defeat all their enemies before them, but laziness and complacency took over. Perhaps the children of Israel thought they could rest and simply defeat their enemies later. Maybe the children of Israel thought if they didn’t drive out their enemies, they would simply choose to leave on their own. But these testimonies teach us a lesson: if we fail to deal with our problems early, they will persist.
Deal with problems quickly. Have tough conversations, and make tough decisions. The longer you wait, the harder it will get!
Prayer:
Father, give me the courage and strength to deal with problems quickly. I don’t want to let issues persist. I don’t want to let unfinished business linger! Help me to deal with every problem that comes my way swiftly, in Jesus’ name!
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-108-survey-the-land/
See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-108-selfless-celebration/
© Michael D. White, 2016. All rights reserved.