Today's Psalm: 136:23-26"Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever."
It's great to have faith in God, but it is not enough to just say you have faith in Him, you must be willing to work to receive His blessings.The conquest of Canaan was completed and the land was divided, not by majority vote, but by the Lord's decree. Although they had received some of the best territory in the promised land, the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim complained that they should have more territory given to them because of their great numbers and what they perceived as their prominent position among the tribes. "And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." (Joshua 18:14-18). Sadly, these two tribes chose the easy way of compromise and let the Canaanites reside within their borders rather than fight for their God-given territory.Often, the blessings of God depend upon our faith in Him, if we are not willing to put a little effort into making things happen what good would it do. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:19-26). It is not enough to have faith in God, we must keep working with that faith knowing that God will lead us to victory.Many people are just plain lazy, they want so many things in life and often wonder why they do not have them. Yet, they never make one effort in obtaining them, constantly seeking someone to help them. We may be Christians, but we are not doormats and although we try to help those in need whether they are saved or not it is sometimes wise to refuse to help those who express no concern for the will of God nor make any effort to help themselves. When we have our priorities centered upon the Lord, we need not fear losing our share of anything. Now, do not mistake "Works by Faith" with "Works of Salvation". No one can work for their salvation, only Jesus is our salvation. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16).Think of Jesus as food, food is essential in providing us with the nutrients we need to stay alive, but if we just look at it and not eat it then we will die. Jesus is essential in providing us with the nutrients we need to stay alive spiritually, but if we just think about Him and not accept Him than we will die spiritually. Making that effort to get to know Him increases our faith even more giving us the encouragement to do more, which in turn blesses us far beyond what we ever imagine.
AMEN