Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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An approach based on convictions
Joshua. 14. 1 - 8


“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions” (9)
I was told about a story of two boys who was admitted in one of the hospitals in New York. Both were in a very serious condition and even the doctors were struggling to figure out what was going on. One family was so disappointed and disturbed and they took an attitude of hatred towards the disease and to the doctors. They didn’t want to answer to the questions and even speak to the doctors. But the other family approached this situation from a different perspective and were able to co operate with others in this difficult situation. This shows the two approaches that we have towards the problems that we have in our lives.
The book of Joshua explains how the inheritance the people received in the Promised Land and how it was divided into different tribes. In the given passage, the inheritance to Caleb and his family is mentioned. But before that Caleb said something that is very very significant in our faith. He was talking about something that happened forty five year back. When the spies were sent to see the Promised Land, Caleb was one among them. Others saw the land and its problems differently from what Caleb did. He gave report based on his convictions. He also did see the difficulties but from a different perspective. He saw the problems through the eyes of his convictions.
His conviction was based on at least two things. Basically he saw things through the perspective of God’ promises that God gave to him. He saw the difficulties but understood that God’s promises will work beyond these difficulties. Secondly he saw the difficulties from the perspective of faith. He knew that the communities, armies and the fortress of Canaan were beyond their capacity level to capture. But he saw the power and might of God through faith and eventually that helped the people of God to enter the Promised Land. His report was based on the convictions that he had. How do we see the difficulties that we face today? What is our approach towards Death, sickness, addictions, financial difficulties, problems in the families etc?. Can we see these through the perspective of our convictions of faith? God gave us the promise that ‘He will be with us all through our days’. Let us depend on Him all the days of our lives.
Prayer: Loving God we are grateful for your promises and help us to see things from the perspective of our convictions of faith. Amen
Thought for the day: Right perspectives will give right directions


Rev. V. M. Mathew, Youth Chaplain NY

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