神的呼召和應許
約書亞記三章1至8節
1約書亞清早起來，和以色列眾人都離開什亭，來到約但河，就住在那裡，等候過河。
2過了三天，官長走遍營中，
3吩咐百姓說：你們看見耶和華─你們神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬著，就要離開所住的地方，跟著約櫃去。
4只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。
5約書亞吩咐百姓說：你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。
6約書亞又吩咐祭司說：你們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。於是他們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
7耶和華對約書亞說：從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在。
8你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：你們到了約但河的水邊上，就要在約但河水裡站住。
信息分享
不錯，我們今天選讀的經文與昨天的一樣，因為我們還可以透過這幾節經文學到其他的教訓。
第5節是一個明確的命令：「你們要自潔，明天神必在你們中間行奇事。」
米亞博士(Dr.F.B.Meyer)指出，這句說話除了提出一個命令之外，還提出了一個原則性的規範。神的百姓必須自潔，神才會在他們中間顯出祂的大能作為。
我們每個人都想看奇事神蹟，對嗎？我們期望看見神蹟發生在我們的生命中、我們的家中及教會中。我們期望看見罪人得蒙神的拯救，且日後都忠心跟從神。然而，我們是否願意滿足神的期望，努力過聖潔的生活？
當神要百姓「自潔」時，祂究竟要他們做些甚麼呢？人要「自潔」，就至少要做兩件事，它們包括：
為著自己所犯的罪向神認罪求赦。
立志將自己的一生奉獻給神使用。
時至今天，神仍然要信徒自潔──要向祂承認一切的罪，和立志忠心事主。
現在留意神的應許(同樣在第5節)：「明天神必在你們中間行奇事。」與神同行的人，他們將一天勝過一天。昨天，我們已經歷到神的祝福：今天，祂不曾留下一樣好處不給我們：明天，祂的恩福將繼續源源不絕地賜下。
你可能會問：「神要行甚麼奇事呢？」我們未必能確實知道，但我們卻知道，神必信守祂的應許。我們只要做好本分，神就會成就祂的應許。
經文默想：
「你們要自潔，明天神必在你們中間行奇事。」約書亞記三章5節
GOD'S CALL AND GOD'S PROMISE
Joshua 3: 1- 8
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;
3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.”So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’”
Message
Yes, our reading today is the same as yesterday. There is much more we can learn from these verses.
Look at the definite command of verse 5 - 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'
Dr F.B. Meyer points out that there is a condition here as well as a command. He says 'The wonder working power of God always depends on the consecrate of God's people.'
We all want to see wonders, don't we? We want to see them in our own lives, in our homes, in our churches. We want to see souls saved and people going on with God. But are we willing to pay the price of holy living for which God is looking?
What did God mean when he said 'Consecrate yourselves'? He meant that they should do at least two things.
- Confess whatever sin they had committed.
- Tell God that they were available to him, that their lives belonged to him for his service.
That is what God will wants - no unconfessed sin in our lives and no holding back in his service.
Now notice God's promise (also in v.5) 'I will do wonders among you - tomorrow'. It is always better on ahead with God. Yesterday did not take all his blessings. Today has not found him with nothing left to give. Tomorrow he will have just as many blessings as he had before he began pouring them out upon us.
Have you known blessing in the past? Tomorrow can be even more wonderful. It will be different because no two days are the same.
You ask, 'What will God do?' We do not really know. But we do know God and we know his promises are always kept. He will do what he says if we will do our part.
LEARN THE VERSE BY HEART:
Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.' Joshua 3:5