TP4

Is this only the 4th one? Man, I have got to get in gear on these...

Verse 4: Joshua 1.

Have you ever faced a situation where you know what you need to do, it's clear as mud, yet you find yourself starring at the inevitable stalling to take the first step because you just don't know what the outcome will be? I think many of us face these things many times in our lives. They could be small things or they could be rather large things. From making decisions that will affect the entire family, to picking up the phone to call a friend who you know is in need. Either way, we all face what I have recently come to realize as "Jordan Moments".

The Israelites found themselves at a similar point right before they crossed over into the promised land in the book of Joshua. Faced with the promise of receiving a "land flowing with milk and honey", their leader Joshua, receives another promise from God to help along the way. Verses 1:5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you, 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go, and 1:18 Only be strong and courageous.

The Israelites had a choice. They didn't have to enter the promised land. They didn't have to cross the Jordan to get what God wanted to give them. They could have stayed East of the Jordan and lived out the rest of their years in fine fashion I would imagine. But they did. Through the encouragement given to Joshua, God's people made the choice to receive a place to call home which awaited them for many years.

How often in our own lives do we face our own "Jordan moments"? And what has been your response? Did you cross? Did you stay put? What was the outcome? Most of us have no idea what is across our own Jordans. We think about these moments every day wondering what life would be like if I had only done this, or only done that. Yet we continually find ourselves faced with a new Jordan where we must make a decision to cross or simply stay put. If your faced with a difficult decision you must make today, remember, you don't cross it alone. God speaks to you saying, I'm here with you, and by your side I will stay. Now can you cross?