Today’s Reading: Joshua 1, 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3
How great is today’s scripture reading! These selections have some rich truths. Make sure you complete all the reading today!
Note: I am doing today’s journaling a little differently. I am taking the first nine verses of Joshua chapter one and interrupting the text to share the impressions I received from the Lord.
Scripture/Observation/Application: Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, …
[Every one of us will die. My earthly life is not forever. I need to remember this so that I will pay attention to doing things that will make a difference. Also, look at what Moses went through. He had his ups and downs, his victories and defeats. But God did fantastic things through Moses. The world was different because of his life. “Will the world be different because I was here?” I want to make a difference in my world.]
the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: …
[Now that Moses is gone, the Lord turns to Joshua. (How would you like to follow that act?) God is always preparing the next generation. No one, not even Moses, is indispensable. I need to realize that I am not indispensable. And I want to be involved with God in raising up the ones who will replace me when I am gone. Find someone who will stick with you no matter what and cultivate that person.]
"Moses my servant is dead. …
[Now it is up to Joshua. God knows the score and He lets Joshua know that He knows. I also like the way the Lord describes Moses “my servant.” May the Lord say that of me.]
Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites.…
[Here’s where the rubber meets the road. There is a time when you’ve got to step out and actually do what it is that you’ve been preparing to do.]
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates — all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.…
[God renews the promises He made to Moses — He repeats them to Joshua. “Lord, may I receive the promises You gave to those who have gone before me.” Also here I see that God knows in advance the best boundaries for my life.]
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
[Oh, how these words must have been comfort and encouragement to Joshua. He saw how God was with Moses. It was remarkable over and over again and Joshua knew that he could count on God coming through for Moses. Now God tells him that He will do the same for him. How great of a word is this?]
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous.…
[Notice that God repeats Himself here. I think that Joshua needed the emphasis. So I can identify with Joshua. I often lack strength and courage. Here God tells Joshua, “You’re going to succeed in doing it! Be encouraged!” Awesome!]
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.…
[“Be careful to obey!” I need to pay close attention to doing what God has told me to do. Sloppiness, a lack of discipline, distraction, and procrastination are so prevalent and must be overcome. But I have to take intentional action to overcome these tendencies. “Be careful!”]
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.…
[Of course, here is a key element in doing what I just wrote about. Stay in the Bible — live in it, and let it live in me. I’ve got to do more than just read it. I have to speak it, I have to meditate on it. That involves, reading, memorizing, and giving times of quiet solitude thinking on the word. This one key is perhaps the cardinal truth that will make the greatest difference.]
Then you will be prosperous and successful.…
[Here again is God clearly stating His personal guarantee of success. I really like the word prosperous. That speaks to me of a level of fruitfulness way beyond subsistence. God wants me to succeed spectacularly. He wants me to walk in abundance and not in scarcity. I have actually shunned richness because of a mistaken idea of the virtue of poverty. God doesn’t want us to trust in prosperity but He does want to give us prosperous and successful lives.]
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
[God says, “Hey, this is The Almighty commanding you to walk in a prosperous and successful life so take courage and just do it.” If God is the one doing the directing, then we can go forward with confidence. You have no reason for hesitation, don’t get stuck on fear or a lack of courage (that’s what “discouraged” means). Oh, how I desire to know the ever-detectable presence of God!]
Prayer: Lord, Amen. So be it in my life. May I hear these words You spoke to Your servant Joshua, and may I let them seep into my soul and may I live accordingly.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
Title: Truly Believe / Topic: Passion
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 32, 33, 34; 1 Corinthians 2
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“…Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you — they are your life…”
Observation: These words of Moses to Joshua and the nation of Israel are powerful! Here, Moses is nearing the end of his life and he is giving the people one last message. He is very aware of the fact that he will be taken from these people whom he has led for forty years. So he does his best to communicate clearly to them all the truths that will help them to succeed. (In fact most of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ words of training and preparation for Joshua and the people.) But look at these words, coming near the end. Notice the passion in each phrase: “take to heart”, “all the words”, “solemnly declared”, “command your children”, “obey carefully”, “they are not just idle words for you”, “they are your life”. They must take seriously absolutely every word Moses is saying. Will they? Probably not, and certainly not if they are not urged to. Why?
Application: The answer is that people rarely listen all that well. We all hear a lot of words but how often to we listen as Moses was telling his hearers to listen? I would suggest that it is not often at all. But as I read Moses powerful and passionate plea to his people, I feel it resonating within me as well. Do I take to heart all the truths that have been delivered to me? Do I obey carefully everything I say I believe? Or isn’t it true of me (and most Christians I know) that I do treat much of what I have been taught as “idle words”? I believe that I need very much to hear the words of Moses that the truths that I have been taught “are my life”, that is, my survival depends on truly living according to them. It is far too easy to live comfortably in a comfortable world without challenging or being challenged in any significant way. Jesus said that if I am to follow Him I must deny myself and take up my cross daily. I’m not sure everything that this implies, but I’m pretty sure I’m not even close to fulfilling what it means. What I hear Moses saying to me rings true to a theme that the Lord has been putting on my heart: “take it to the next level”. I see so many people of other religions or even of non-christian cults who take their faith much more seriously than most so-called Christians, including myself. This broken world needs an on-fire church filled with passionate believers who truly believe what they say they believe and whose lives demonstrate that belief undeniably.
Prayer: Lord, help me to take it to the next level. I ask you to help me to put aside the temptations of ease and indulgence and deny the weakness of my undisciplined and procrastinating human nature. Deep down I truly know that Your words really are my life and that they are not idle words in any way. Rekindle a passion within me so that I will forcefully and consistently act in obedience to Your will and ways. Strengthen me in my inner man so that I may be more and more of what You have purposed for my life and that I may lead others to Your purpose for their lives.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“…Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you — they are your life…”
Observation: These words of Moses to Joshua and the nation of Israel are powerful! Here, Moses is nearing the end of his life and he is giving the people one last message. He is very aware of the fact that he will be taken from these people whom he has led for forty years. So he does his best to communicate clearly to them all the truths that will help them to succeed. (In fact most of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ words of training and preparation for Joshua and the people.) But look at these words, coming near the end. Notice the passion in each phrase: “take to heart”, “all the words”, “solemnly declared”, “command your children”, “obey carefully”, “they are not just idle words for you”, “they are your life”. They must take seriously absolutely every word Moses is saying. Will they? Probably not, and certainly not if they are not urged to. Why?
Application: The answer is that people rarely listen all that well. We all hear a lot of words but how often to we listen as Moses was telling his hearers to listen? I would suggest that it is not often at all. But as I read Moses powerful and passionate plea to his people, I feel it resonating within me as well. Do I take to heart all the truths that have been delivered to me? Do I obey carefully everything I say I believe? Or isn’t it true of me (and most Christians I know) that I do treat much of what I have been taught as “idle words”? I believe that I need very much to hear the words of Moses that the truths that I have been taught “are my life”, that is, my survival depends on truly living according to them. It is far too easy to live comfortably in a comfortable world without challenging or being challenged in any significant way. Jesus said that if I am to follow Him I must deny myself and take up my cross daily. I’m not sure everything that this implies, but I’m pretty sure I’m not even close to fulfilling what it means. What I hear Moses saying to me rings true to a theme that the Lord has been putting on my heart: “take it to the next level”. I see so many people of other religions or even of non-christian cults who take their faith much more seriously than most so-called Christians, including myself. This broken world needs an on-fire church filled with passionate believers who truly believe what they say they believe and whose lives demonstrate that belief undeniably.
Prayer: Lord, help me to take it to the next level. I ask you to help me to put aside the temptations of ease and indulgence and deny the weakness of my undisciplined and procrastinating human nature. Deep down I truly know that Your words really are my life and that they are not idle words in any way. Rekindle a passion within me so that I will forcefully and consistently act in obedience to Your will and ways. Strengthen me in my inner man so that I may be more and more of what You have purposed for my life and that I may lead others to Your purpose for their lives.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Taking The Plunge
Today I begin something that I have felt that I should do for some time, but have been afraid to do. Maybe afraid is not exactly the right word but I have been reluctant to make the kind of commitment that a daily blog involves. But today I am finally doing it. My goal is to daily post my written journal from my daily devotional reading. I invite you to read my post and to respond or post your own reading. I have been following a Bible reading plan devised by Pastor Wayne Cordiero of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. The daily Bible reading can be accessed online by clicking on the "Today's Bible Reading" link. Each day I take a portion from the Bible reading, make an observation, write an application, and offer a prayer. I invite you to read and comment as you would like and even post your own devotional thoughts. Join with me and let's use this blog as a tool to stimulate discipline and dedication to daily time in God's word and prayer.
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