Joshua 23

In Joshua’s old age, he gathered the Israelites together to say his goodbyes. Knowing his life was coming to a close, Joshua shared from his heart about the promises and faithfulness of God in order to inspire the children of Israel to guard their hearts and give them to God:

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14–15)

Our Challenge Today Lies in Our Choices

Joshua’s challenge to the Israelites is our challenge today.

To find abundant life we must give total commitment to the giver of abundant life. God will never make us choose him because real love always gives free will. God’s authentic love invites you to choose. Our choices will empower one way or another. Your free will is a precious treasure to guard so you can give it fully to God.

However, as Joshua warned the Israelites, choosing God is not always easy in a culture that contradicts God’s truth. Often attachments to the past or fear over the future govern our choices to cling to the world instead of surrendering to God.

A woman’s heart is the center of this battle.

The enemy seeks to take our heart captive to destructive sources that prevent us from becoming the person God designed us to be. God wants to release his potential within each of us so we can walk in our authentic identity and bring the love of Christ to others. However, Satan, the enemy of our soul, would love to shut down our heart by convincing us we are not valuable; that we do not matter—and that we cannot trust—God.

But remember this: Jesus laid his life down to fight for our heart, releasing us to live fearlessly for his glory as we look to him as our sole source for life. When our thoughts change, our choices will change. The battle is won through the eyes of faith as you renew your mind to God’s love for you and choose to follow God.

A Brave Heart Walks by Faith

A brave heart walks by faith in God and his Word and not necessarily by what she sees. Oh, she still feels afraid when adversity arrives, but understands that the source of her courage and strength comes from looking at life through the lens of who God is and believing the voice of truth over the enemies’ lies taunting her to fear.

Her heart is determined to believe God. In doing so, she invites others to do the same.

Brave hearts believe God, experience the Promised Land, and lead others to do the same. Only by encountering Jesus and embracing his words through faith will we find true freedom. Open your heart to God’s Word, allow Jesus to capture your heart and become the woman God created you to be.

 Nourish Scripture: Joshua 22–24

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Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Sometimes the greatest change in the lives we love come when we let others go to make their own choices. Sometimes love means letting go. Sometimes giving ourselves and others the freedom to fail can be the greatest gift!

Know That Authentic Love Inspires

Love is not manipulation. Real love—authentic love—does not try to control. Manipulation, even if our motives are good, cannot bring about real change.

Inspiration, not manipulation, is the key. Inspiration speaks truth, prays, lives by example, encourages and empowers by letting others own their choices.

God calls us to encourage one another but realize we cannot change one another.

You and I have a will that chooses. The Holy Spirit will invite you to yield to him—but he will not force you to follow. Authentic love does not force or control but invites and gives freedom to make choices and experience the results from our choices.

Failures are not to be feared—they teach us. I am told that babies fall some 700 times before they learn how to walk. When they push themselves up again, they build the muscles in their arms, legs and core. As their muscles grow stronger, they gain the ability to walk.  If they never fall, they will not build the strength to walk. Falling is essential to walking.

Grace allows us to be growth minded. If I fall, I can admit my mistake and reach out to Christ by asking for help, take his hand, make a U-turn and learn from my mistakes. I have the confidence God loves me despite my failings and will use every mistake to build me into a stronger servant for him. If I get off the path, God in his love for me will discipline me back on track.

Manipulation, even with the best of intentions, is not God’s way. Sometimes love means letting others go to make their own choices. When this involves loved ones, nothing could be harder.

The Promised Land and the Twelve Tribes

The Lord promised a land flowing with milk and honey to all twelve tribes in the Israelite family. While the Promised Land was for all twelve tribes, only nine and a half tribes took hold of that promise and settled inside the land. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half of the tribe of Manasseh (the Transjordan tribes) asked Moses if they could settle just outside the borders of the Promised Land because they thought that land was “suitable” for their livestock (Numbers 32:1–33).

Although Moses pleaded with the two and a half tribes to reconsider their decision, he granted their request with the stipulation they fight beside their brothers until the Promised Land was secure. Now that the battles were over, and the allotments made, Joshua blessed those Transjordan tribes and sent them on their way.

We Must Invite, Not Force

Even when God calls us to speak the truth in love to individuals, we must then release them to make their own decisions. The Transjordan tribes wanted to be identified as God’s children, but could not fully commit to Promised Land living.

God will never force us to move forward and partake of our spiritual inheritance in Christ. He will never violate our free will.  Jesus has opened the door for abundant life; it is our choice whether or not we will follow his voice (John 10:1–10). His love invites us to follow—it never forces.

God calls us to encourage one another, but realize we cannot change one another.

Part of love is letting go. You cannot manipulate anyone into the Promised Land. God has given all of us free will, and we cannot force anyone to live out his or her spiritual inheritance. But we can love them, speak truth, and encourage them live to follow Christ—especially by the way we live our lives.

Nourish Scripture: Joshua 23

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Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.