Straight Is The Path

“Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left.” (Joshua 1:7, NIV 1984). 

My Musings – I’ve mentioned in my musings before how unfortunate it is that “born-again” is used as an adjective (modifier) of the term Christian, instead of as a synonym (means the same thing).  Equally unfortunate, at least to me, is the use of the adjective “evangelical,” as if there were any Christians who were exempt from the Great Commission.

As I reflect on God’s instructions to Joshua, I am saddened to see how much turning we have seen in recent years from God’s laws.  Even though we were warned that “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2–4, NIV 1984). 

We often assume that this turning aside is to the “left,” marked by a loosening of, or outright disregard for, God’s moral standards, as well as denying that Christ is the sole means of salvation.  But I think, if we are honest, we can also see a great deal of turning aside to the “right.”  A Pharisaical tendency by some to “tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, [that] they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move.” (Matthew 23:4, NIV 1984).  The vigorous condemnation of some sins as being more grievous than  others. To mercilessly attack those who sin differently than we do, while excusing those with “lesser” sins like our own.

My Advice – The instructions are “all,” not some.  Not just the ones we are okay with.  The command is “my laws” not our man-made rules. The way is Jesus only.  Not some other way on the left or the right that we are “itching” to try out.  Stay the course.

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

— Chris Rice

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing