DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 8 January 2025: Do As The Romans Do
Text: Joshua 22:1-10 (KJV)
1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
2 And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
KEY VERSE: Joshua 22:5
“But take diligent heed to… love the LORD your God; and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” is a saying attributed to Saint Ambrose centuries ago. A woman and her son consulted Ambrose when they planned to visit Rome. He told them the Romans observed Saturday as a fast day. Those who travelled to the city were also expected to comply with that culture. So, he advised the two to do as the Romans did. That led to the saying about following the way of the Romans when in their territory.
But there is a clear warning to followers of the Lord not to drop their Christian conduct for other practices as we move from place to place, either during missionary expeditions or in our secular engagements. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were returning to the land allotted to them after faithfully helping to secure the territories of the other tribes. Joshua sternly admonished them not to drop their godly comportment for the sinful traditions of where they were heading. They must not do as the Romans do, as it were.
Changes in profession, residential addresses, or marital status must not be allowed to displace our love for the laws of Christ. As faithful believers, we are eternally bonded to Him and His commandments. These laws moderate our lifestyles, whether we are married or not and whether we reside in temperate or tropical regions. We are to be masters over these external conditions by putting Christ first in all that we do. In other words, we should be able to say, like the Apostle Paul, that we can do all things through Christ, who empowers us to overcome all circumstances.
Believers, therefore, must not apportion to themselves so-called comfort zones, where they become tin gods and are unreceptive to changes that immensely benefit the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We must be ready to conform to changes as the Spirit leads. We must welcome challenges as stepping stones to new territories to be conquered for our Master. And as we move, we must go with unflagging zeal demanded by the Lord.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Dislocations and relocations test the strength of our convictions.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Genesis 24-25
Daily Manna 8 January 2025
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