I gave you a land you did not labor for, and cities you did not build, though you live in them; you are eating from vineyards and olive groves you did not plant. Therefore fear YHWH and worship Him in sincerity and truth. - Joshua 24:13-14a
Do we deserve the gifts of God?
As he drew near to his death, Joshua reminded the Israelites of all that God had done for them in bringing them into and establishing them within the Promised Land. They had received:
- a land for which they had not labored,
- cities they had not built, yet inhabited, and
- nourishment from vineyards and groves they had not planted, all from the hand of God.
We know, from history, that the Israelites did not deserve these gifts because they continued to rebel and disobey the Lord well into the future. In the same way, neither do we deserve the gifts that we have received. For example, we have received:
- salvation we have not earned,
- the promise of heaven with present citizenship, and
- the fruit of the Spirit planted in our hearts by God Himself.
This is grace, an abundance of gifts which we have not deserved and it is worship, not only to remember, but also to act in light of this grace.
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass, but still remember what the Lord hath done. - William Shakespeare
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