Today's Passage - Joshua 5:6-7

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 5:6-7   "The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way."             The outward circumcision could not bring salvation. The Israelites who left Egypt were born there and were circumcised according to the Laws, but their hearts were away from God even though they were circumcised. Their hearts were hardened when they were close to the Promised Land, and they refused to attack enemy. This caused God to punish them, that all of those who left Egypt had to die in the wilderness. And their children, who were born in the wilderness, had never been circumcised.             The Israelites who had been circumcised died in the wilderness because they were lack of faith and were unwilling to obey by entering the land of Canaan; The main reason that those circumcised died in the wilderness and those uncircumcised entered the Promised Land is obedience. Many try to serve God by experience, thinking that they should have some authority simply because they have been around long enough; others try to serve God by relationships, thinking that they can secure a position as long as they have good relationships. Real spirituality is neither associated with these nor bible knowledge. The greatest danger of a Christian is that many feel that they are spiritual after they read the Bible many times. What's even worse is many thought that they are spiritual because they studied theology. These are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.             Real spirituality lies with our obedience to the Lord. Dear brothers and sisters, are you obedient to the things that God has commanded? Are you obedient on your tithe? Are you obedient on the commandment to love one another? Are you obedient on sharing the gospel? If you cannot be obedient in basic things as such, how do you expect God to bless you? Promised Land doesn't fall from sky, for God doesn't grant His blessing to lazy person. Promised Land needs to be entered by the feet of the obedient person. When the new generation is obedient to God, they get to enter the Promised Land. Regardless how long you know the Lord, how long have you been baptized, I want to ask: Are you obedient to God? Only those who are obedient can please Him.   Pray with Pastor Tong     Dear Lord, may You help us not to be like Israelites who died in the wilderness because of disobedience. May You continue to grant us an obedient heart to not rely on our experience, relationships or knowledge. Help us to have an obedient heart to follow Your words every day. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!