Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

Blessings Instead of a Curse "But I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak." (Josh. 24:10 NLT) From the beginning, God revealed His intention to bless humanity. Nothing man did was strong enough to stop God's desire to bless His creation. In Genesis 1:26, God declared His intention to create man. In verse 27, He created man, and in verse 28, He blessed him. This shows that the very first thing humanity encountered after creation was the blessing of God. Not even sin nor the devil was powerful enough to cancel God's purpose. Even when man fell, God did not revoke His blessing. Scripture reminds us that “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). God's gifts and calling remain secure; they are not withdrawn or taken back. This is why, in our text, when Balak tried to curse Israel through Balaam, God refused to listen. Instead of allowing a curse, God turned the situation into a blessi...

History Scarcely Speaks of Failure "Then Joshua addressed all the people: ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: A long time ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the River Euphrates and worshiped other gods.’” (Josh. 24:2) History often celebrates success but rarely dwells on failure. The news and public records are filled with stories of people who achieved greatness. Their accomplishments are highlighted with admiration, and many are encouraged to emulate them. Yet behind many celebrated stories are forgotten beginnings, struggles, and even moments of hesitation that history scarcely mentions. In Joshua’s address to Israel, he reminds them of their past. He speaks of Terah , Abraham , and Nahor , ancestors who once lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. From the book of Genesis, we learn that Terah initially began the journey toward Canaan. “ Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and Sarai his daughter-in...

They Presented Themselves Before God “Joshua called together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He called in the elders, chiefs, judges, and officers. They presented themselves before God.” (Josh. 24:1) As Joshua prepared to exit the scene of leadership, he did not only prepare himself; he also prepared the leaders and the people for the future. He summoned the elders, chiefs, judges, and officers of Israel and gathered them together. Yet the Scripture says something striking: they presented themselves before God. Here is the important lesson. Although Joshua called the meeting, the people did not present themselves before Joshua—they presented themselves before God . This reminds us that in service, leadership, or ministry, even when people invite us or organize the gathering, it is ultimately God before whom we stand. Human beings may call us to serve, to lead, or to attend, but our true audience is always God. Our accountability is to Him. This is why the apostle Paul urges ...

Nothing Is Left Undone “As you can see, I’m about to go the way we all end up going. Know this with all your heart, with everything in you, that not one detail has failed of all the good things GOD, your God, promised you. It has all happened. Nothing’s left undone—not so much as a word.” (Joshua 23:14) As Joshua approached the end of his life, he spoke with deep conviction and clarity. He reminded the people of Israel that every promise God made to them had been fulfilled. Not one word had failed. God had proven Himself faithful in every detail. Life moves steadily toward a destination we all share. From the moment we take our first breath, we begin the journey that will one day lead to our last. A Yoruba proverb says, “There is a name every human must bear,” reminding us that death is a reality none can escape. Joshua simply described it as “the way we all end up going.” Yet the real question is not merely how long we live, but how well we live. God has entrusted each of us with...

Guard Your Soul “Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love GOD, your God.” (Josh. 23:11) As Joshua prepared to leave the children of Israel, his final charge was not about warfare, territory, or strategy. It was about the soul. He urged them to vigilantly guard their souls—and he revealed how: by loving God. This is profound. Scripture teaches that we love God because He first loved us. Our love for Him is a response to His grace. Yet Joshua shows us that this love is not merely emotional; it is protective. Loving God becomes the safeguard of our inner life. The soul is the inner compartment of our being—made up of the will (the chooser), the emotions (the feeler), and the mind (the thinker). When we truly love God: We choose what honors Him. We feel in ways that align with His Spirit. We think thoughts that reflect His truth. Love for God regulates our decisions, disciplines our emotions, and renews our thinking. It becomes a shield against compromise. The apostle echoes t...

The Altar Connects Us "But that’s not it. We did it because we cared. We were anxious lest someday your children should say to our children, ‘You’re not connected with GOD, the God of Israel!’" (Joshua 22:24) When the two and a half tribes of Israel—Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—returned to the land allotted to them east of the Jordan, they built an altar by the river. The remaining tribes, upon hearing this, quickly concluded that their brothers had turned away from God and were erecting an altar to a strange god. They prepared for war, determined to correct what they thought was rebellion. However, before taking action, they wisely sought clarification. The eastern tribes explained that the altar was not for sacrifices nor for idolatry, but as a memorial—a witness between them and the rest of Israel. It was built to affirm that though separated by geography, they were still united in covenant with the God of Israel. The altar was a symbol of connection, no...