神的呼召和应许
约书亚记三章1至8节
1约书亚清早起来，和以色列众人都离开什亭，来到约但河，就住在那里，等候过河。
2过了三天，官长走遍营中，
3吩咐百姓说：你们看见耶和华─你们神的约柜，又见祭司利未人擡着，就要离开所住的地方，跟着约柜去。
4只是你们和约柜相离要量二千肘，不可与约柜相近，使你们知道所当走的路，因为这条路你们向来没有走过。
5约书亚吩咐百姓说：你们要自洁，因为明天耶和华必在你们中间行奇事。
6约书亚又吩咐祭司说：你们擡起约柜，在百姓前头过去。于是他们擡起约柜，在百姓前头走。
7耶和华对约书亚说：从今日起，我必使你在以色列众人眼前尊大，使他们知道我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在。
8你要吩咐擡约柜的祭司说：你们到了约但河的水边上，就要在约但河水里站住。
信息分享
不错，我们今天选读的经文与昨天的一样，因为我们还可以透过这几节经文学到其他的教训。
第5节是一个明确的命令：「你们要自洁，明天神必在你们中间行奇事。」
米亚博士(Dr.F.B.Meyer)指出，这句说话除了提出一个命令之外，还提出了一个原则性的规范。神的百姓必须自洁，神才会在他们中间显出祂的大能作为。
我们每个人都想看奇事神迹，对吗？我们期望看见神迹发生在我们的生命中、我们的家中及教会中。我们期望看见罪人得蒙神的拯救，且日后都忠心跟从神。然而，我们是否愿意满足神的期望，努力过圣洁的生活？
当神要百姓「自洁」时，祂究竟要他们做些甚么呢？人要「自洁」，就至少要做两件事，它们包括：
为着自己所犯的罪向神认罪求赦。
立志将自己的一生奉献给神使用。
时至今天，神仍然要信徒自洁──要向祂承认一切的罪，和立志忠心事主。
现在留意神的应许(同样在第5节)：「明天神必在你们中间行奇事。」与神同行的人，他们将一天胜过一天。昨天，我们已经历到神的祝福：今天，祂不曾留下一样好处不给我们：明天，祂的恩福将继续源源不绝地赐下。
你可能会问：「神要行甚么奇事呢？」我们未必能确实知道，但我们却知道，神必信守祂的应许。我们只要做好本分，神就会成就祂的应许。
经文默想：
「你们要自洁，明天神必在你们中间行奇事。」约书亚记三章5节
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