Living a godly life

Observations:  1 Corinthians 4 is a hard read for me.  Paul starts out as though his position as an apostle is being challenged.  He warns the people not to be the apostles’ judges.  Then he seems to challenge them on their pride and boasting.  He admits that he is scolding them.  They need to be more like Paul, humble and not arrogant.  In the end he asks them if they would rather be fought, or loved.
In the book of Joshua, we read about the Israelites finally crossing the Jordan into the promised land.  They crossed on dry ground, just as they had when leaving Egypt, but this time, instead of Moses’ staff parting the waters, the ark of the covenant was used. A memorial of 12 stones was set up as a reminder of what the Lord had done for them.  The men who had been born during the desert wanderings were then circumcised, and they were allowed to eat their first Passover in Canaan.  From that day on, the manna stopped and they ate of the produce of the land.  Joshua then met up with the Commander of the Lord’s Army.  Just as Moses had been told to remove his sandals, so was Joshua told he was standing on Holy Ground.  I’ve often wondered about this passage.  Some believe this commander was an angel, but because of this action, I believe this would have been God – possibly Jesus, since Jesus will lead the final battle? He will be the commander then, so it makes sense to me that he has always been the commander.  We know that he existed before his human incarnation.  Also, Joshua was not scolded for worshipping this Commander as people always were when they attempted to worship angels.  Another thing that comes in my mind here is that the manna had stopped, and Jesus is the bread of life.  Is it possible that Jesus was to be with them from that point forward?  Later, of course, we will learn that they didn’t follow the commander’s lead… In chapter 6, we have the battle for Jericho.  I have always thought this was fascinating.  They were a vast army.  I can just imagine how every day as they marched around the city, the grout between the stones got weaker and weaker from the constant pounding of their feet.  I can just imagine the fear of the people inside the city grow day by day, but the only one to be saved was Rahab, a prostitute, who is then used in Jesus’ genealogy.    

​Scripture:  “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Application:  I think we forget about the power of God.  2 Peter 1:3 tells us: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”  Are we truly letting God’s power reign in our lives? Do we have the knowledge of who he is, and who he has called us to be?  If we don’t, there is no better time to be delving into Scripture to see what He has for us.

Prayer:  Lord, help us not to fret away this quiet time we have been given.  Guide us to use this time wisely.  Show us what to read or watch or listen to that will direct our paths so that we might live more godly lives through your power. Amen.

Next Reading:  Joshua 708; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5