Keep a Distance!

Something that might never cross your mind is to distance yourself from God. This comes naturally to us in our sinful nature, but as we discussed Joshua 3 in Bible class last Sunday, I was enlightened. The Israelites are preparing to cross the Jordan and:

 ...the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people:"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it". (Joshua 3:2-4)

What smacks me upside the head is that the Israelites did not know where they were going, just like me...pretty much every day. What's next? What is outside my control that might tempt me to worry and pace and get snappy with little students and my bride? If I determined my path everything would probably be smooth sailing, free from conflict (and growth!), and most everything would probably revolve around what makes me happy.

And God, loving me, doesn't settle for my way (praise Him for that!). Still, I forget to pay Him reverance...setting Him above all else and fixing my eyes upon Him. My doing, all the  clutter from life  gets piled around the LORD my God. Take a moment to reflect with me. So it is early Saturday morning, and it was already six days since we talked about this at church and my mind got working as people shared thoughts I hadn't thought, "If they didn't keep a huge distance between them and the ark, it would be chaos. They wouldn't know where to go."

That's often me, giving into anxiety, not setting the LORD our God before me. Instead, focusing on the difficulties or things that get in the way of what I want. Maybe it is even bad counsel or psychology. Shallow and transitory things, as well. Who knows. It doesn't compare to my Savior.

Colossians 3:1 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."