“I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.  Now fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth…”  (Josh. 24:13,14)

Prior to verse 13 Joshua reviews the history of Israel.  God is reminding them of all he has done – “I gave, I brought, I delivered” you.  Such a reminder is given to prepare them for the challenges of vs. 14,15.  Israel must make a choice, either to serve Jehovah (the giver of all these things) or to serve false gods.  The one choice is to show gratitude to God who gave them the land; the other choice is to squander the wealth! 

How does Israel avoid this tragedy? First, they must put away the false gods.  God is a jealous god.  They must be devoted to him alone.  Second, they must avoid the haughty spirit.  Israel must not pride themselves in their wealth and forget from whence the riches came.  They must remember Jehovah and be grateful.  Thus, Joshua reminds them of how God drove out the enemy (vs.10) and gave them this rich land!  Would they forget, and thus squander the wealth?

God has also richly blessed us.  He has given us a Savior and a means of redemption.  He has given us a reason to live and a victorious way to die.  He has blessed us with God’s family, the greatest family on earth.  We must not squander the wealth. 

What will you do, my brother with these great blessings?  First, you must put away the false gods.  (I Jn. 5:21)  God wants single minded devotion.  Second, you must humble yourself before God and remember from whence the blessings come.  (Jam. 4:10)

God has given us great opportunities.  If they are wasted we will regret it eternally.

 By George Slover

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. “ (Hebrew 11:7)

Noah had the right kind of faith, the kind that got results.  He had the kind of faith that pleased God.  When most of the world did not believe, Noah did! 

His faith resulted in the saving of his house.  He would not have been considered the greatest personal worker, but his strong faith led his family to also believe.  This was remarkable in an extremely wicked world.  Thus eight precious souls were spared from the terrible flood. By his faith he also condemned the world.  His righteous conduct and love for God judged all of those who rejected the Lord.  By faith he became an heir of righteousness meaning that through faith he was forgiven of sin and gained fellowship with God.  Thus, Noah saved himself and his family.  What were some features of such a faith?

First, Noah’s faith was intellectual.  It was not a blind leap in the dark, as som would have us to believe.  God warned him o f the flood and Noah intellectually consider the evidence and though he has never seen a flood still Noah believes! 

Second, Noah’s faith was emotional.  He “moved with godly fear”.  An acceptance of God’s justice will lead to such fear and an acceptance of his mercy will result in praise!  “And when I think that God his Son not sparing sent to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the cross my burdens gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin, then sings my soul, my savior God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art!”

Third, his faith was active. He prepared an ark to the saving of his household.  “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did”.  (Genesis 6:22)  Such a faith is the kind that God accepts (James 2:14-26) and will result in God’s forgiveness.   
What kind of faith do you have?  Is it dead?  Or, is it alive and actively trusting God and obeying him to the redemption of your soul?

By George Slover

If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.  And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”  (Genesis 4:7) 

These words God spoke to Cain as he contemplated killing his brother Abel.  Jealousy was about to consume him.  His sacrifice had been rejected and his brother’s accepted.  However, Cain can avoid another sin if he will choose to “do well”.  

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before.  And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing with into a heavenly or hellish creature; either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself.  To be the one kind of creature is in heaven:  that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power.  To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness.  Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.”     Mere Christianity (New York, NY; Macmillan Publishing Co. 1952)pp 86, 87

Most know the unfortunate end of Cain.  First he chooses an unacceptable sacrifice.  Instead of correcting his mistake he allows his relationship with God to lead to jealousy and finally murder.  Thus, Cain became that lonely, hellish creature of which CS Lewis spoke.   

Each day we must make important decisions that point us in one direction or the other.  What will it be for us – heaven or hell?

By George Slover

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. “ (Psalms 42:1,2)

This is one of the most touching and beautiful of all of the Psalms. A favorite hymn has been written with the first verse of the Psalm. 
The imagery is of a young stag crying for water in a hot country in time of drought.  The Psalmist compares himself to this deer.  He is in a dry and thirsty land panting for God.  “My soul thirsts for God, the living God.” (vs. 2)  Jehovah God is the only living God, and the sole source of spiritual life.  All other gods are imposters.

The Psalmist acknowledges that only the living God can satisfy the cravings of the human spirit.  Worldly men thirst for riches, honor, and power.  Yet, these never satisfy.  Some may suppress such cravings until they are no longer felt.  But, such numbness is not to be confused with satisfaction.  If I go on a hunger strike, I am told the time comes when I will no longer desire the food.  Yet, for all of that I will still be a starving man.  Thus, man may absolve himself from God, but deep down his need for God remains. 

The longer I live in this old world the more I appreciate the value of fellowship with God.  Only Jehovah satisfies, only God is the source of genuine joy!  So sing it my brother!  “I want you more than gold or silver.  Only you can satisfy.  You alone are the real joy giver and apple of my eye”.

By George Slover

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:33)

The original idea for “Moment With The Master” started when I was in college.  A Bible verse was printed daily in the Houston Chronicle.  Each day I would cut out the verse and paste them in a small spiral notebook.  Below each verse I would write my thoughts for the day.  After I filled the book I gave it to Nancy as a gift.  A section of scripture that was constantly on my heart were the verses that precede the above quotation.   

These verses express God’s providential care.  These comforting words tell us not to worry for God will provide.  “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, Oh you of little faith?” (Vs. 30)  Here is a call to faith – to believe and acknowledge God’s providence.  

Having raised a family, which started in December of 1976, Nancy and I can truly say we have experienced the blessings God has offered.  I can remember when the bank account was low and times when we “shuffled the bills”.  But, it seems at just the right time a brother would hand me a $20.00 or that unexpected check would arrive.  He helped us, after the death of Nancy’s father, to move Nancy’s mother from California to Texas.  I’m sure God had a hand in those sisters who delivered hot rolls to our doorstep just in time for lunch when we lived in Tucumcari, New Mexico.  We have been graced with so many wonderful, godly lives, both young and old, since we began our work in San Marcos in 1989. God has blessed us with two wonderful children and gave them four godly grandparents.  God has been so good!

In younger days I looked at the above passage in a selfish manner focusing more on the God gives, God blesses, God cares.  But, as I grow older I am more impressed with my responsibilities here.  God calls upon me to put him first. I owe him so much and will never be able to repay the debt.  He has abundantly provided the lesser “things” that I might pursue the greater joys of having him as my spiritual ruler and knowing that I am in a right relationship with him.

By George Slover