Getting to the heart of the matter 

Cleo has had several “babies”—stuffed dog toys that she “affectionally” tears to shreds! Just yesterday she ripped the squeaky-toy heart out of one (fluff all over the living room!🤣), and she’s guarding that “heart” constantly. 

Good (maybe weird) reminder of staying close to the heart of the matter. Spiritually, we need to stay close enough to God to sense His heartbeat for what matters most. 

Joshua 3:3-4 says, “And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

The Israelites were getting ready to enter the Promised Land and face battles and see amazing victories. ‭

There was a reverence for the ark because that was where God’s presence dwelt in the tabernacle. 

There was also a simple, practical reason for keeping some distance: That way they could see where to go as they followed. 

They were to be close enough to follow but far enough back to let God lead. 

If you’ve ever walked a dog, you know they like to take the lead and be out in front. Maybe they respond to words or a tug on the leash, or maybe they just pull whatever direction they want to go (sometimes I wonder who’s walking who!). 

We need to let God lead us and to constantly stay close enough to sense His heartbeat. The things that matter most to God should matter most to us, and it should be easy for God to get our attention and guide us whatever way He wants us to go. 

Today’s Bible reading is Joshua 3.