“…That ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people; sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
Joshua 3:4-5
The idea behind learning new things is to maintain a given standard, while applying new techniques to update both our skills and our thinking. It is the difference between rubbing two sticks together to create fire and lighting a match; or, between lighting a match, and clicking a lighter. All three techniques will create fire, yet, each one is a more efficient tool than the last.
If we are unaware of or afraid to use more efficient tools, we will not be able to function more effectively and efficiently at the same task as someone else. And, we cannot use those tools to our advantage or to advance our heavenly directive. Others will be able to incorporate it into their daily routine, creating a new standard for all within their environment. They will know, and you will not. Of course, there are advantages to using the old tried and true methods of our foreparents. And, there are times when modern amenities offer a much more advantageous outcome. In most instances, time is the deciding factor. —What does all this have to do with God?
God created us to evolve; and evolve we have. He has given us the decision to choose the latter things over the former, or vice versa. —Coupled with the option to remain stagnant or to move forward, He provided a promise that if we remain steadfast in each step of our journey, we will be prompted toward a more excellent way.
When we read about the Children of Israel moving from the wilderness, through the Jordan River, and into the Promised Land, they were clearly bombarded with the burden of learning new things. They had to release everything they had previously learned from their parents about living life in the wilderness, and accept the new directives from God in order to live in the new land of promise. The previous standards of their foreparents had become irrelevant; they now had to adhere to a new directive —and, a new standard, if they were to survive.
When we read the New Testament, the Sanhedrin represented the former things; the animal sacrifices, isolation of the priests from the people, and worst of all, putrid thinking. With the arrival of Jesus Christ came a more advanced directive —an evolution of thought; a new and more efficient way to God—a new breed of Judaism; a new religion called, Christianity.
No more did we have to go through a priest to talk to God. No more did we have to offer a blood sacrifice to atone for our sins. The veil of the tabernacle that separated us from God was destroyed. And, a new, more efficient and excellent way, was created for us to access God directly.
Some of us prefer the old ways, there's nostalgia in it. Our parents did it that way; our grandparents and great-grandparents did it that way. Why should we change the process?
There are many reasons, but consider this; we change the process to access more time. More time to be with those we love. More time to do the things we love. More time to learn and create. And, most of all, more time to grow closer to God. L.
Study Reference: Joshua 3:4-5
From: "Learning New Things." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Joel Robison
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