FIVE criteria to DECIDE our ‘TRUE’ Christian DISCIPLESHIP!
March 11 Bible
Reading: Joshua Chapters 22-24
FIVE criteria to DECIDE our ‘TRUE’ Christian DISCIPLESHIP!
"But take careful heed to do
the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you,
to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments,
to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your
soul." So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their
tents. (Joshua 22:5-6)
Just before the Israelites were about to enter the
land of Canaan, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh came
to Moses and requested that they wanted to be allotted land property east of
the Jordan River because the land of Jazer and Gilead had lots of green
pastures to feed their cattle (Numbers 32:1-4). Instead of the Promised Land,
they wanted this land property as their eternal possession, and did not want to
cross the Jordan River (v. 5).
However,
when Moses explained to them that it was God’s intention all along to take them
to the Promised Land that He had sworn to their forefather Abraham in Genesis
12:1-3, these two and half tribes understood the implications of their
decision. They requested Moses that their families may remain in the cities of
Gilead, but they (the men) would arm themselves and go with the other Israel
tribes to fight and subdue the Canaanites. They would return back to their land
only after all of Canaan was subdued
by the Israelites (Num. 32: 16-32).
It was now over
seven years since the tribes of
Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh had left their loved ones to fight
the Canaanites. They had endured the hardships of combat until the land of
Canaan was secured for the Israelites. Now that the land west of the Jordan River
had been divided for the remaining tribes, Joshua permitted the tribes of
Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh to return to their territory east
of the Jordan, as originally agreed. He also told them to take with them their
share of the spoil from the battles they had fought!
However,
just before these tribes headed back to their families east of the Jordan
River, Joshua gave them five criteria
to decide for themselves if they were truly obeying God’s commandment (Joshua
22:5-6), which are as follows:
- Love God sincerely
- Walk in the ways of God
- Keep God’s commandments
- Hold fast to God alone
- Serve God with all heart and soul
While Joshua
released the two and a half tribes from present military obligations, he
imposed upon them other spiritual obligations by reducing the content of the
divine commandment to five important statements: to love the Lord, to walk in
His ways, to observe His commandments,
to cleave to Him and to serve Him. Following these five criteria in the lives of the
Israelites would ensure that they are doing everything that God desired from
them!
Let us
remember that for the New Testament Covenant Church also, these five criteria will decide if the
believers are truly Christian disciples.
These five criteria are the essence
of the “first and great commandment”, to
love God wholeheartedly (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37). Loving God is much more
than an affirmation or a feeling; it is obedience,
loyalty, and service to God above all else. Let us make a decision today that we
will obey God using these five criteria,
and please Him through our daily Christian living!
