Joshua 11:18 "Joshua made war a long
time with all those kings."
Prior to this verse is a detailed description of some of the cities and kings that were destroyed by Joshua and the children of Israel. Though the details are given in a relatively few verses, it is understood by our text verse that it took quite a while for the victory to be experienced. Joshua made war a long time. Let that sink in for us today. They battled a long time. Yes, I keep repeating those words, "a long time."
What does this have to do with us today? What about your garden? What happens if you do not battle the weeds? You weed the garden one day and then the very next day, or couple days, you look and there those pesky things have popped out of the ground again. I've heard people talk about having to wage war against the weeds in their garden. It's an ongoing process that takes "a long time."
Have you ever had a habit that seems to keep coming back over and over? Have you ever thought that if you could just overcome it today, you would have it whipped and not ever be bothered with it again? Have you ever laid down at night and said, "Lord, I thank you that today I was able to avoid that habit and not give in to it." - Only to wake up the next morning and realize the habit is still in you and you still have to battle it. It seems to me that as long as we are in this flesh, we will have battles that are waged within us. I have to make war "a long time" with all those things that want to overtake me.
Yes, all of life is a struggle. There are some days when it seems the struggle overtakes us. Remember the little town of Ai overcoming Israel at the first? Then, thank God, there are days when we are able to feel somewhat of a victory in our lives for those good days. There are two key lessons for me this morning. The first one tells me that all of life is a struggle and we all have our battles that we must fight. They are all very real, no matter the magnitude. If they are not fought, the "weeds of life" take over. So the second lesson is this: Keep up the fight. Do not give in. If we have a hard day today, do not just give in to those things that would inhabit and overtake our spirituality. "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings." It is imperative that you and I make war every day with those things that would try to overtake and destroy us. The Lord gives grace to help each day.
Prior to this verse is a detailed description of some of the cities and kings that were destroyed by Joshua and the children of Israel. Though the details are given in a relatively few verses, it is understood by our text verse that it took quite a while for the victory to be experienced. Joshua made war a long time. Let that sink in for us today. They battled a long time. Yes, I keep repeating those words, "a long time."
What does this have to do with us today? What about your garden? What happens if you do not battle the weeds? You weed the garden one day and then the very next day, or couple days, you look and there those pesky things have popped out of the ground again. I've heard people talk about having to wage war against the weeds in their garden. It's an ongoing process that takes "a long time."
Have you ever had a habit that seems to keep coming back over and over? Have you ever thought that if you could just overcome it today, you would have it whipped and not ever be bothered with it again? Have you ever laid down at night and said, "Lord, I thank you that today I was able to avoid that habit and not give in to it." - Only to wake up the next morning and realize the habit is still in you and you still have to battle it. It seems to me that as long as we are in this flesh, we will have battles that are waged within us. I have to make war "a long time" with all those things that want to overtake me.
Yes, all of life is a struggle. There are some days when it seems the struggle overtakes us. Remember the little town of Ai overcoming Israel at the first? Then, thank God, there are days when we are able to feel somewhat of a victory in our lives for those good days. There are two key lessons for me this morning. The first one tells me that all of life is a struggle and we all have our battles that we must fight. They are all very real, no matter the magnitude. If they are not fought, the "weeds of life" take over. So the second lesson is this: Keep up the fight. Do not give in. If we have a hard day today, do not just give in to those things that would inhabit and overtake our spirituality. "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings." It is imperative that you and I make war every day with those things that would try to overtake and destroy us. The Lord gives grace to help each day.