Joshua 12 Kings Defeated by Moses and Joshua

God has chosen a people for himself to establish his kingdom upon the earth. Unfortunately, there are many who are not interested in God's kingdom and are working to establish their own kingdom or become followers of someone else's kingdom. Israel set out on a journey since their liberation from the land of slavery in Egypt to wipe out all opposition to God's kingdom. The enemies were numerous under Moses as well as Joshua.

Even after Joshua, Israel's history continued as a nation striving to establish God's kingdom and battling to eliminate enemy kingdoms. My life's purpose should follow the same pattern. Through Christ, I have been liberated from my slavery to sin and death. Now that I am free, my whole life is dedicated to pursue God's kingdom and his righteousness; to establish his reign in my heart and my community. My journey is also filled with many opposing kingdoms. I must battle against each and every one of them. Victory is promised to me in Jesus Christ!

What kind of enemy kingdoms are there waiting to be conquered? The kingdom that poses the greatest threat to my life is the SELF. Selfishness is lurking at all times trying to make me captive. It manifests itself in self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, and self- indulgence; a godless trinity that seeks sacrifice, promises pleasure, but only delivers destruction. I must devote them to destruction before they undo me if I am to enjoy the promises of God's kingdom.

There are many other kingdoms seeking my allegiance to see me forsake my God. Money is constantly promising the means to buy whatever I need. Power is offering control over all the issues of my life. Indulgence offers me pleasures beyond my dreams. None of them will tell me that what they offer is short-lived and ultimately ends in my demise. I must battle tooth and nail to eliminate them from upon the earth, but first I must get rid of them from my heart.

Lord, help me battle in your name to establish your kingdom. Grant me power to overcome selfishness and all the lures of the world. Fill me with peace that surpasses understanding, love that surpasses knowledge and joy that is everlasting. Amen.