Today’s Reading: Joshua 12; Joshua 13; Joshua 14; 1 Corinthians 7
Scripture: Joshua 13:13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.
Observation: Chapters 12 and 13 of Joshua are not the kind of Bible reading that I enjoy -- they are a labor more than a joy. Nevertheless, I found this verse interesting. Here is the account of two towns that the Israelites overlooked in their battles to conquer the land. Geshur and Maacah were left intact along with their people, and, as a result, "they continue to live among the Israelites to this day."
Application: As a believer, I am engaged in a spiritual war. And throughout my life, there are battles to be fought and won. If I neglect to deal with a particular stronghold or problem area in my life, that area will remain to be a place in my life in which the rule and reign of Christ does not apply. It remains unconquered territory which my enemy still possesses within my boundaries and from which he has easy access to other areas of my life. It becomes a platform from which attacks against me can be launched.
Bottom line: Don't neglect to deal with any problem in your life. It can be tempting to not deal with certain sins because they are hard to get out or because we secretly have a certain affinity for them. But any sin neglected or glossed over will become a sore spot later. Many people who have simply covered over sin, like painting over rotten wood, have had that sin bring ruin to them later. Be relentless with sin. Get rid of it now.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for myself and any who will read this that you will remove any blinders or denial that has concealed areas where the enemy is still present in our lives. And, Father, give us determination, courage, and strength to fight the battles necessary to dislodge our adversaries and remove them completely from our lives.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Title: Don't Take It Outside / Topic: Life In The Family Of God
Today’s Reading: Joshua 9; Joshua 10; Joshua 11; 1 Corinthians 6
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
Observation: Paul rebukes the Corinthians. But notice what he does and does not rebuke them for. He does not rebuke them for having disputes between believers in the church. Paul understands, and so should we, that disputes are a normal part of being in any family, and that's what the church is -- a family. So disagreements, arguments, fights, and disputes are a normal part of church life that we should expect and work out with God's grace and wisdom.
However, because the Corinthians are doing otherwise, Paul does rebuke them for not being able to settle their disputes within the church. He even goes so far as to say that it is better, as a Christian, to accept being a victim of another believer's cheating or other intentional wrong action against you than to take your dispute outside the church! In Corinth, they were even filing lawsuits against one another in court.
Application: Many in today's church, unfortunately, do much the same thing. They take their offenses and indignation and present their case to others, both within the church and outside, in the form of gossip and backbiting. They feel justified because they were wronged in some way. What is so sad is that this has the same negative impact on the testimony of the church as the actions that Paul spoke against. Outsiders and insiders are infected with the poison of conflict and soured on the church. People who were uninvolved with the conflict are drawn into it and the problem grows like an infection, damaging the church and many people in it. Many who need the message of hope the church brings turn away from the church because of being exposed to this kind of thing. It is so unfortunate and I know it makes our Lord sad. And it should make us sad. So many so-called Christians have never truly solved a dispute in the biblical way, or have never been willing to be wronged for the cause of unity for which Jesus prayed.
Bottom line: When you have a conflict within your church family, stay and solve it. If you can't get the result you want right away, accept it and stay put. Love the people you are in conflict with -- forgive them. Don't speak evil against them to anyone. Offer yourself to God as a sacrifice of love and forgiveness rather than harming the Body of Christ.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for all ways in which I have contributed to conflicts with my brothers and sisters that have resulted in harm to your children and your Church. Help us to truly take to heart your heart's desire that we abide in unity and self-sacrifice, being willing to be offended rather than to take up our cause against a brother or sister. Lord, may your church rise up in unity and love. Bring us back to the basics of greatest commandments: loving you with all of our mind and soul and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
Observation: Paul rebukes the Corinthians. But notice what he does and does not rebuke them for. He does not rebuke them for having disputes between believers in the church. Paul understands, and so should we, that disputes are a normal part of being in any family, and that's what the church is -- a family. So disagreements, arguments, fights, and disputes are a normal part of church life that we should expect and work out with God's grace and wisdom.
However, because the Corinthians are doing otherwise, Paul does rebuke them for not being able to settle their disputes within the church. He even goes so far as to say that it is better, as a Christian, to accept being a victim of another believer's cheating or other intentional wrong action against you than to take your dispute outside the church! In Corinth, they were even filing lawsuits against one another in court.
Application: Many in today's church, unfortunately, do much the same thing. They take their offenses and indignation and present their case to others, both within the church and outside, in the form of gossip and backbiting. They feel justified because they were wronged in some way. What is so sad is that this has the same negative impact on the testimony of the church as the actions that Paul spoke against. Outsiders and insiders are infected with the poison of conflict and soured on the church. People who were uninvolved with the conflict are drawn into it and the problem grows like an infection, damaging the church and many people in it. Many who need the message of hope the church brings turn away from the church because of being exposed to this kind of thing. It is so unfortunate and I know it makes our Lord sad. And it should make us sad. So many so-called Christians have never truly solved a dispute in the biblical way, or have never been willing to be wronged for the cause of unity for which Jesus prayed.
Bottom line: When you have a conflict within your church family, stay and solve it. If you can't get the result you want right away, accept it and stay put. Love the people you are in conflict with -- forgive them. Don't speak evil against them to anyone. Offer yourself to God as a sacrifice of love and forgiveness rather than harming the Body of Christ.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for all ways in which I have contributed to conflicts with my brothers and sisters that have resulted in harm to your children and your Church. Help us to truly take to heart your heart's desire that we abide in unity and self-sacrifice, being willing to be offended rather than to take up our cause against a brother or sister. Lord, may your church rise up in unity and love. Bring us back to the basics of greatest commandments: loving you with all of our mind and soul and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Title: Stand Up! / Topic: Leadership
Today’s Reading: Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5
Scripture: Joshua 7:6-10
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening... 10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?..."
Observation: Joshua is panicked about the defeat of the Israelites at Ai. He and the elders are mourning and lamenting before the Lord. The Lord rebukes him.
Application: There is a call on leadership that is demanding. The Lord says, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?..." It's a sharp rebuke. This is not a time for mourning or reflection, it is a time for action and judgment. Instead of complaining to and about God and the defeat they suffered, they needed to look at their own failings, for they brought this defeat upon themselves. It is tough, in the midst of defeat, to stand strongly as a leader, but it is what the Lord expects. As the saying goes, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." If you want to act out of your pain and circumstance, then leadership is not for you.
Prayer: Lord, strengthen me that I may lead in times of defeat as well as victory. Make me a leader that is tough and strong.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Joshua 7:6-10
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening... 10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?..."
Observation: Joshua is panicked about the defeat of the Israelites at Ai. He and the elders are mourning and lamenting before the Lord. The Lord rebukes him.
Application: There is a call on leadership that is demanding. The Lord says, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?..." It's a sharp rebuke. This is not a time for mourning or reflection, it is a time for action and judgment. Instead of complaining to and about God and the defeat they suffered, they needed to look at their own failings, for they brought this defeat upon themselves. It is tough, in the midst of defeat, to stand strongly as a leader, but it is what the Lord expects. As the saying goes, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." If you want to act out of your pain and circumstance, then leadership is not for you.
Prayer: Lord, strengthen me that I may lead in times of defeat as well as victory. Make me a leader that is tough and strong.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Title: Follow The Ark / Topic: Divine Guidance
Today’s Reading: Joshua 3; Joshua 4; Joshua 5; Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4
Scripture: Joshua 3
3 ..."When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before..."
Observation: As the Israelites are preparing to enter the land, they are given instructions to follow the ark of the covenant.
Application: "You have never been this way before." This is the story of our lives. Every day is an unexplored experience that we walk through, never really knowing what will happen. And, like the Israelites, we have periods that are truly outside of our experience. And in all these, we need to stay close to the presence of the Lord, which the ark represents. Keep God in sight, "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before."
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your willingness to guide us. I want to follow your presence and never stray from the places that you lead. Keep watch over me and keep reminding me to keep my eyes on you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Joshua 3
3 ..."When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before..."
Observation: As the Israelites are preparing to enter the land, they are given instructions to follow the ark of the covenant.
Application: "You have never been this way before." This is the story of our lives. Every day is an unexplored experience that we walk through, never really knowing what will happen. And, like the Israelites, we have periods that are truly outside of our experience. And in all these, we need to stay close to the presence of the Lord, which the ark represents. Keep God in sight, "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before."
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your willingness to guide us. I want to follow your presence and never stray from the places that you lead. Keep watch over me and keep reminding me to keep my eyes on you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Title: It's A Relationship Thing / Topic: Walk With God
Today’s Reading: Joshua 1; Joshua 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3
Scripture: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you?...
Observation: The Lord is reminding Joshua that he must carefully follow his instructions, now that Moses is dead. It's about intentionality and diligence. This line caught my eye. Depending on where you put the emphasis, there are interesting nuances in the meaning:
#1 Have I not commanded you? -- Hey, it's me, your God who has taken care of you and who brought you out of Egypt. Because you know me and my love for you and my power, you should automatically follow my word. It's a relationship thing.
#2 Have I not commanded you? -- Let me make this clear, this isn't my suggestion, it's my command. So no playing around. My commands must be handled with great respect and care!
#3 Have I not commanded you? -- Joshua, it's not just Moses that I spoke to, this word is to you. Receive it personally as Moses did because I am giving the same weight of responsibility for carrying out these words to you as I did to Moses or anyone else.
Application: I like the first one best and it seems to me to make the greatest impact. God appeals to Joshua (and to you and me) on the basis of relationship. If you've walked with God and you know him, it should be of great importance to please him and follow him closely. God is my father and friend. I want to love him because I know he loves me and I have be greatly blessed by his love for me. It's a relationship thing.
Prayer: Dear Father, I am so glad that I know you and that you know me. I am so blessed to be your son. Help me to always relate to you in love and obedience and give me strength to resist temptations of the world and the devil and the evil impulses of my own sin nature. I want to walk with you as my Father and my friend. Thank you for being a Father and a friend to me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you?...
Observation: The Lord is reminding Joshua that he must carefully follow his instructions, now that Moses is dead. It's about intentionality and diligence. This line caught my eye. Depending on where you put the emphasis, there are interesting nuances in the meaning:
#1 Have I not commanded you? -- Hey, it's me, your God who has taken care of you and who brought you out of Egypt. Because you know me and my love for you and my power, you should automatically follow my word. It's a relationship thing.
#2 Have I not commanded you? -- Let me make this clear, this isn't my suggestion, it's my command. So no playing around. My commands must be handled with great respect and care!
#3 Have I not commanded you? -- Joshua, it's not just Moses that I spoke to, this word is to you. Receive it personally as Moses did because I am giving the same weight of responsibility for carrying out these words to you as I did to Moses or anyone else.
Application: I like the first one best and it seems to me to make the greatest impact. God appeals to Joshua (and to you and me) on the basis of relationship. If you've walked with God and you know him, it should be of great importance to please him and follow him closely. God is my father and friend. I want to love him because I know he loves me and I have be greatly blessed by his love for me. It's a relationship thing.
Prayer: Dear Father, I am so glad that I know you and that you know me. I am so blessed to be your son. Help me to always relate to you in love and obedience and give me strength to resist temptations of the world and the devil and the evil impulses of my own sin nature. I want to walk with you as my Father and my friend. Thank you for being a Father and a friend to me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Title: Lock It In / Topic: Deliberate Living
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 32, 33, 34; 1 Corinthians 2
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:45-47
45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, "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. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Observation: Moses does a lot of talking in these chapters. It makes sense because he is laying the groundwork for the transition from his leadership to that of Joshua. This statement, at the end of his "song" is so important. He tells them that the words he has spoken are of great importance and that they must take them with the utmost seriousness. Note the words and phrases:
"take to heart"
"solemnly declared"
"command your children"
"obey carefully"
"all the words"
"not just idle words"
"they are your life"
And the last summary statement, "By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess," implies what Moses states directly in other places: failure to follow them will bring disaster.
Application: I must take the word of God seriously, and not just the word of God, but also the words of Godly men and women, those elders that God has put in my life. I must be solemn and deliberate in making these words a priority in my life. I must take these words and lock them into my thinking. To fail to do so is to make them "just idle words" and thus endanger myself and those around me.
Prayer: Lord, help me to intentionally apply my heart and mind to the truths that you bring to me from your word and your servants. I want to live with the utmost care and diligence to give honor to you by closely following your word.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:45-47
45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, "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. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Observation: Moses does a lot of talking in these chapters. It makes sense because he is laying the groundwork for the transition from his leadership to that of Joshua. This statement, at the end of his "song" is so important. He tells them that the words he has spoken are of great importance and that they must take them with the utmost seriousness. Note the words and phrases:
"take to heart"
"solemnly declared"
"command your children"
"obey carefully"
"all the words"
"not just idle words"
"they are your life"
And the last summary statement, "By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess," implies what Moses states directly in other places: failure to follow them will bring disaster.
Application: I must take the word of God seriously, and not just the word of God, but also the words of Godly men and women, those elders that God has put in my life. I must be solemn and deliberate in making these words a priority in my life. I must take these words and lock them into my thinking. To fail to do so is to make them "just idle words" and thus endanger myself and those around me.
Prayer: Lord, help me to intentionally apply my heart and mind to the truths that you bring to me from your word and your servants. I want to live with the utmost care and diligence to give honor to you by closely following your word.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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