Joshua 15

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

(Jos 15:63)

This verse strikes a very sad chord in my heart. “The children of Israel could not drive them out.” - It speaks of failure to posses all that God had given failure to fully realize what God had for them. Tonight at youth group Hector read one of my favorite verses… Psalm 20:4 – It says, “May He (God) grant you all your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.” It tells us that the Lord wants to FULLY REALIZE His perfect plan and purpose for our lives. The Jews here in our passage today, could only say they “partially” fulfilled the LORD’S purpose.

I want to be a man that fulfills all that God has called me to do. I don’t want to leave the Jebusites living in Jebus! (Look it up, that’s really what they called it – Judges 19:10-11) I want to fulfill all of the purpose God has for my life, I want to accomplish the work He has called me to do.

The failure to drive out the Jebusites was not God’s fault. When it says that they couldn’t do it, it doesn’t mean that God wasn’t strong enough… it just lets us know that the Israelites weren’t really relying upon Him. Think about how central Jerusalem would become to Jewish worship… It is no wonder that it was such a difficult place to posses! It is often like that in our walk and relationship with the Lord, the most difficult battles are often the most crucial. It was David, a man after God’s own heart who would eventually drive the Jebusites out. I think we can learn from that… The only way to gain victory in those crucial areas is to be people who are literally seeking after God’s heart; wanting to love what He loves, and to live like He wants.

Are their any Jebusites hanging on in your life today? Territory that the Lord has commanded you to conquer, yet the enemy is still controlling it? Maybe today would be a good to change that story… Just like David follow after the heart of God, and allow HIM to drive out those last remnants of the world!