January 18

Joshua 3:1–5

1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

3 and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant

of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

Biblical Insight

The Israelites were to follow two thousand cubits (about three thousand feet) behind the Ark of the Covenant. In preparation for this endeavor, Joshua told the people to “sanctify yourself,” perhaps interpreted as “make yourself holy or consecrate yourself.” The consecration was in preparation for God to do wonders. The command for consecration is presented as the expected preparation for God to do the miraculous; if one expects miraculous provision, one must first undergo sanctification.

Daily Devotion

There is a process in various ecosystems known as “prescribed burns.” This practice is where trees and plants are set on fire for the good of the entire harvest. A designated area is burned to revive and supplement the land’s health. Upon completion, a new ground is ready to be tilled and purposed after the refining of the excess.

Believe it or not, this practice is a safe alternative to letting the forests and bionetworks run rampant and wild. You see, when nature is left to its own devices and not redirected and kept guarded, it will grow uncontrollably. Try willing your grass to stop growing on its own, or the weeds to not overtake your yard without some sort of correction. Nature grows until intervention channels its growth.

The same goes with people. God can sanctify us on a daily basis through our time in His presence, and His work in us should be progressive. This refining, this “prescribed burning” away of what does not belong, helps us become become holy. We don’t simply receive the Holy Ghost and then leave our spiritual selves unchecked. We daily seek Jesus’ work in our hearts to cleanse us, shape us, and prepare us for our journey from now to Heaven.

Jesus never promised a life of comfort and ease. A painful purifying will occur, but there will be glory after it. Think about your prayer time. Are you making room for God to cleanse and shape your heart?