Read: Joshua 10:1-26 and Acts 19:11-20
Have you ever played one of those word association games? You know the ones I'm speaking of - someone says a word and you're supposed to say the first word that comes into your mind. It's been theorized that a lot can be determined about you based on your responses. Your temperament, personality, potential for success or failure, supposedly, can be gauged by analyzing the results you've spontaneously given at the mere hearing of a word.
In our reading for the month, Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land and they had begun the military campaigns necessary to take possession of it. The once impenetrable walls of Jericho were flattened. Ai had been burned to the ground, with every citizen destroyed. It appears as we read chapter 10, verses 1 and 2, that Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, played a word association game of his own, for when he heard "Joshua", his response was "fear!" The enemies of God knew the name of the people of God because of the wonders He performed at their hands. His move in the life of His people was undeniable and terrifying to His opponents. Similarly, in Acts 19, the hand of God was so evident in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul that even the demons knew his name!
What images will the mention of our name evoke in the mind of the hearer? Will it be compassion, mercy, forgiveness? Will it be love, peace, Christ-likeness? Is it evident to those in observance of our lives that the hand of God is with us? Have we made such an impact for the kingdom of God that the very demons know us by name?
It is God's desire that we live victorious lives and that those lives are a reflection of Him. We are Christ's ambassadors and are to represent all aspects of Him - His character and His power! Let's not be so impotent in our service to the Lord that it can be said of us, "Paul I know and Jesus I know, but who are you?"
Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we present ourselves before Your throne to renew our commitment to You. Forgive us for any way in which we have become passive and complacent. Stir up the fire within that empowers us to walk in the authority given us by Jesus' shed blood. Let our lives reflect your glory, bringing Your love to mind for humanity and fear into the enemy's camp. Amen.
