Title
Little by Little
Scripture
And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
(Deuteronomy 7:22)
Devotional
The law and the prophets are a shadow of the good things that were to come in the gospels of Christ.(1) Those nations that were to be driven out before the nation of Israel represent the sin that is to be driven out of the believer. When we came to the saving knowledge of Christ, we were instantly forgiven and given the promise of heaven. Nevertheless, without a doubt, there were and are things in our lives that need to be driven out of us, like those nations that were driven out before Israel little by little.
We have so many hidden and inherent sins in us that the Lord in His grace and mercy drives them out little by little. After more than three decades of walking with the Lord, He still is removing my sin nature. It is for this reason we are instructed to die daily. (2) It may not be: Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, or Jebusites; but it will be lust, hatred, pride, arrogance, jealousy, speculation, and all that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
(1) Hebrews 10:1 (2) 1 Corinthians 15:31
Text For The Day
Deuteronomy 7:22: “And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.”
Thought For The Day
“When it comes to change, there are three seasons of timing: People change when they hurt enough that they have to, when they learn enough that they want to, and when they receive enough that they are able to.” Author John Maxwell
Questions To Ponder
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Do we serve a patient God? Is He ever in a hurry?
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Is repentance instant or does it take time? Consider Revelation 2:21.
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Does not repentance require change? Have you been changing since you came to Christ?
Morning Study Guide
Defining: “Little by little”: Many of us have been running full-bore, down hill in sin for years. If we would have attempted to make a 180 degree turn all at once, most of us would have fallen or at best stumbled. God in His merciful grace slowed us down and has been turning us and will continue to turn us little by little until we see Him face to face.
Referencing: “Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land,” Exodus 23:30.
Applying: Be as patient with yourself as God is patient with you. Never stop turning from known sin in your life, even if it is little by little.