Drive Them Out

Numbers 33:55 "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell." In this passage we have an incredible spiritual application. As we grow and mature in the Lord, we take ground and become more and more like Him. The Holy Spirit causes us to become aware of areas in our life that need to develop and transform. Sometimes we might fight against the changes that God is trying to make in us, and even ignore sins that He brings to our attention. We might say to ourselves "I am a child of grace, it won't matter if I refuse to let God into this area of my life". Although our standing in His righteousness is a work of grace, this unmerited favor of God doesn't exclude us from struggling because of a partially surrendered heart. Those places of rebellion and disobedience will undoubtedly become irritants to our eyes, leaving us with hindered vision and perspective. They will also become thorns in our side, causing our progress and growth to be painfully slow. Lastly, they give the devil an open door to harass us about our lack of purity. What is the remedy? By faith we must "drive out" theses enemies of maturity through prayer. I pray that we would be so sensitive and intimate with the Spirit that we would continually sweep our spiritual house until we are completely transformed on the day of His return.