Josh 18:1   "The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control"

  

Israel take the Promised Land and set up the Tabernacle at Shiloh, fairly much in the centre of the land, where it remained until David later took the Ark to Jerusalem. It was the place where Israel met with God – in the centre of the land, and the country was brought under their control. It seems like the two things go together: God is placed in the centre of the land and the nation takes control of the land!

 

Those were very shaky days. There were still some of the old occupants in the land, but nevertheless the country was brought under Israel 's control. Do we have echoes of the past still lurking in our lives, and do those things sometimes discourage us. Remember, with Jesus, your country (life) is under your control. Yet it is a process for Paul taught, “each of you should learn to control his own body.” (1 Thess 4:4) and, “the fruit of the Spirit is… self-control” (Gal 5:22,23) and fruit gradually grows. It is a work of the Spirit in us: “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7).

 

Will I make excuses, or will I today take control over the tendencies from the past and put them to death? Will I today look to Him to enable me to truly be in control of this life of mine, so that it becomes more and more Christ-like? Today will I believe this – and be in control?