Words of Encouragement

We can stand in any area of our lives and have the opportunity to reverence God.  Have you lowered yourself today and glorified God.

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. - Joshua 5:13-15

Reverence for God. In His Presence. One of the meanings for reverence was the outward manifestation of this feeling.  This is the action, active response that calls for God's people to do something.  How can we say we reverence God, but it does not show in any of our actions in our lives?

Joshua was preparing to go to battle at Jericho and as he was standing there, he saw a man standing by.  He asked him who he was.  He wanted to know was he for his side or for the enemy's side.  The response was neither, I'm on the Lord's side.

When Joshua received the response that he was in the presence of a messenger of God, he immediately went into action.  He did not stand and look at him or continue to ask questions, he immediately went into a position of humbling when he fell on his face.  He did not ask another thing until he reverence the fact that he was in the presence of God.

When Joshua asked the next question to find what was the reason for the visit, he was met not right away with an answer but with another command.  Take off your shoes, you are on Holy ground.  This was the same command given to Moses when he saw the burning bush.

Joshua was in awe at the fact that he was allowed to be in the presence of the Lord. When Joshua was willing to lower himself (humbling) he was able to find out what God had for him. He was not able to "hear" from God's messenger until he removed his shoes and acknowledged he was in the presence of God. We must strip off all that would stand in the way of our worshipping God so that we can commune with him.

Lord, today help us to lower ourselves so that we can reverence you your way.  Help us so that we will not miss being in your presence.