Corona Devo 501

From the first time she saw them, my mother-in-law has mused about "who" each of our children resemble, whether in looks, habits or mannerisms. Our oldest is soon to be 15 years old, and from time to time she still tries to figure out features that our kids "have" from others in the family or she wonders "who they take after" with traits that vary.

Who do we "resemble" today?

Once I ran into the parent of one of my childhood friends while my three kids stood in tow beside me. The man quipped that even if I had not been standing there with them, he "would have known they were mine" because their faces favor mine.

Do my words/reactions/thoughts "favor" Jesus' words/reactions/love?

Heredity. Sometimes similarities/family resemblances/heritages are positive, but sometimes we need to start fresh as a new generation is birthed.

There are many traits of mine that I literally pray that our children do not embody because they have caused me and others pain and distraction from God and His plan for my life. I want more for the next generation than my fallen-self provides as a heritage.

God had the same "prayer" for the second generation of Israelites that were born after their parents had left Egypt for the Promised Land. The sin, lack-of-faith, and disobedience-to-God that their parents showed barred that generation from entering the land of milk and honey.

Our God is just. As a result of serving themselves instead of God, they forfeited their entry to the Promised Land.

But God's Word and His promises never change or waiver, even if we do.

The Promised Land was still "promised", but it would now be their children (the second generation) who would inherit it.

At that time the Lord told Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise this second generation of Israelites.”... (4) Joshua had to circumcise them. because all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness. (5) Those who left Egypt had all been circumcised, but none of those born after the Exodus, during the years in the wilderness, had been circumcised. (6) The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey. (7) So Joshua circumcised their sons—those who had grown up to take their fathers’ places—for they had not been circumcised on the way to the Promised Land. (8) After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed.

(9) Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day. ~Joshua 5:2, 4-9

Circumcision isn't an easy topic to discuss, but back in the Bible days, it was a big deal and it represented an act of obedience to God that purified Israelite men in God's eyes. These verses, the "next generation" of Israelites accepted and obeyed God's command to do this and they were circumcised by Joshua, their leader and priest. By doing so they would be "cleansed" and have the opportunity to enter the Promised Land.

Sound familiar?

If we accept and obey Jesus into our hearts and lives then we too are "cleansed" by Him, our leader and "priest", and we too will have the opportunity to enter Heaven, our "Promised Land".

And the amazing thing about the "Promised Land" and the "cleansing of our sin" by Jesus is that each generation gets a clean slate and a fresh opportunity to choose Him. Regardless of our family history, or our personal failings yesterday, Jesus offers a new beginning. We can always choose to separate from sin and be cleansed by Him.

So Joshua circumcised their sons—those who had grown up to take their fathers’ places... (Joshua 5:7)

It's our turn. Regardless of our age or our "heritage" of sin or sainthood--it's our turn and the opportunity is open to us to commit to Jesus and follow after God and also to receive His promises. The second generation of Israelites were given a fresh start, and we are too. Their ancestors and ours too may have fallen short, and we too have fallen short, but let's shed the disobedience of self-focus or "family members" before us and choose today Whom we will serve. Regardless of who we "take after" or resemble" in our family, we can grow up in Christ to take our fathers’ places.

Let's trust God to lead us to His plan (and promise!) for today and on our way to His promised land of milk and honey.

Follow Him.

Obey Him.

Let Him lead.

Relax in His leadership and we must let go of our illusions-of/and attempts-at control.

Anything less than these forfeit our entry into the Promised Land.

Today, Lord, we pray that You will roll away the shame of our lives, of any unfavorable legacies that we have been carrying. Cleanse us. Allow our likeness and legacy to resemble and imitate You alone. At any age and in any stage today: we are a new generation for You. We seek your promise and Your Promised Land, and we yearn for much more than our fallen-self provides as a heritage. We claim ourselves as a generation for You, Lord. Amen.

Even if people do not "see" Jesus standing next to us, may they "know" we are His because our "faces", hearts and lives resemble Him. May we be cleansed by Him, our leader and priest today, and may we continue on our journey to the Promised Land.

Blessings, 

Sarah

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