August 19 2018

You have not passed this way before

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. “Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:1-4

We have not passed this way before. 
Each day the journey is new and different. 
We find ourselves in different circumstances, using different gifts and tools that the Lord has place within us, as we walk out our purpose. 
As the Israelites were about to cross into the new territory of the Promised Land, the officers went through the camp and gave the people direction. 
They were advised that the ark of the covenant of the Lord would go ahead of them. 
And that they were to create a space between them and the ark, allowing the ark to take the lead, as they had not passed this way before. 
The Lord Himself dwelt in the ark – and He was going to go ahead of them to show them the way into this new land. 
In order for them to follow the ark, and therefore the Lord, they needed to move far enough behind it to see where it was going. 
It is the same with us. 
Our Lord goes ahead of us, preparing the way, making crooked paths straights and giving us much needed guidance and direction. 
If we move too quickly or get to close, we won’t be able to see Him ahead of us and we may pass or miss Him. 
We need to keep a steady pace behind, allowing Him to always be in the lead. 
Sometimes we think we know where we are going, but no matter how familiar it seems we have not passed this way before.
Slow down, maintain a steady pace, keep your eyes on the Lord and allow him to take the lead. 
Not just in the big picture, but in the everyday picture. 
For we have not passed this way before.


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Posted August 19, 2018 by Laurie Hopkins in category "Uncategorized

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