Day 50, or February the 19th. Be wholehearted
as you follow God. Our thoughts today are from
Numbers chapter 33, verse 55. But if you do not
drive out the inhabitants of the land, those
you allow to remain will become barbs in your
eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give
you trouble in the land where you will live.
And now the big picture surrounding this verse.
Normally, when you think of the Promised Land,
the area coincides with the present -day homeland
of the Jews and the Palestinians, west of the
Jordan River. The book of Numbers reminds us
that some of the tribes chose to settle on the
east side of the river, the land which is called
the Kingdom of Jordan today. Reuben, Gad, and
Manasseh, with permission from God, are planning
to settle outside the promised land. This land
looked good and very suitable for their large
flocks, so they see it as a better option than
crossing the Jordan with all the other tribes.
The tribes on both sides of the river have their
work cut out even though God is on their side.
The locals will not give up their land easily.
Most of the tribes are preparing to cross over
and settle in the land promised by God. Not long
to wait now, but God has more to tell them before
the dream becomes a reality. And now today's
action step. There's no more uncomfortable place
than trying to have one foot in the world and
the other foot in the kingdom of God. People
in this predicament are often accused of sitting
on the fence, but where spiritual matters are
concerned, there is no fence. Jesus said, Anyone
who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who
isn't working with me is actually working against
me. That's in Matthew chapter 12 verse 30. God
gives a solemn warning to the tribes of Israel
as they prepare to enter the promised land. It
can be summed up like this. Don't be half -hearted
when you follow God. You have to decide. A half
-hearted life satisfies no one. A life of commitment
is more rewarding than you can ever imagine.
Committed, you win. Half -hearted, you lose.