Scripture
12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. Joshua 14:12
Observation
Caleb has every right to be tired....to be weary......to be satisfied with just sitting back and propping his feet up. After all, he was 85 years old, and had just come out of 40 years spent wandering in the wilderness and then five years of pretty intense fighting. The easiest thing for Caleb to do was retire and be content with life.
But Caleb is not content until he receives what he has been promised. For the last 45 years, Caleb has had a dream of living on a mountain.
Application
Caleb wasn’t satisfied with where he was, he wanted a piece of the rock, he wanted the mountain. Forty five years earlier he had laid his eyes on this mountain and he never lost sight of it.
Too many people are willing to dwell in the low county.....too many children of God willing to settle for living in the valley.....too many of us content with being nominal Christians........too many of us dwell in mediocrity when God wants us to live on the Mountain.
Caleb wanted the mountain.....he wanted to be a little bit closer to heaven.
Prayer
Thank you Lord that the dreams you place in my heart is a constant source of strength. I too want to live on the mountain.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Mar 21 2009 Josh 9-11, 1 Cor 6
Scripture
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. Joshua 10:14
Observation
The Gibeonites had deceived their way into a treaty with Israel, thus saving their lives. But when the hill tribes heard of it they looked on the Gibeonites as traitors and decided to move against them.
The Gibeonites quickly sent word to Joshua asking for his help. I wonder what I would have done. Had Joshua not been a man of principle he could have used this a way to escape from the consequences of his rash treaty with the Gibeonites. After all they had lied to him.
But Joshua did not think that way. He had made a commitment in God’s name with the Gibeonites and he intended to honor it.
Application
God expects us to do what is right regardless of what others do. How many times do we let the bad actions of others tempt us to do something less than the righteous and honorable thing?
Because he was doing the right thing…he calls upon His God for a miracle. Is the God you serve big enough to perform miracles in your behalf? Or does your faith limit what God is able to do for you?
Prayer
Lord, help me to always walk in the paths of righteousness.
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. Joshua 10:14
Observation
The Gibeonites had deceived their way into a treaty with Israel, thus saving their lives. But when the hill tribes heard of it they looked on the Gibeonites as traitors and decided to move against them.
The Gibeonites quickly sent word to Joshua asking for his help. I wonder what I would have done. Had Joshua not been a man of principle he could have used this a way to escape from the consequences of his rash treaty with the Gibeonites. After all they had lied to him.
But Joshua did not think that way. He had made a commitment in God’s name with the Gibeonites and he intended to honor it.
Application
God expects us to do what is right regardless of what others do. How many times do we let the bad actions of others tempt us to do something less than the righteous and honorable thing?
Because he was doing the right thing…he calls upon His God for a miracle. Is the God you serve big enough to perform miracles in your behalf? Or does your faith limit what God is able to do for you?
Prayer
Lord, help me to always walk in the paths of righteousness.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Mar 20 2009 Josh 7-8 Ps 69, 1 Cor 5
Scripture
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. Joshua 7:13
Observation
God had gone to great lengths to tell his people that if they would follow his commands they would enjoy his blessings. If also made it clear that if they didn’t follow his commands, they would be cursed. It didn’t take very long for his people to see, God meant what he said.
They had experience a tremendous victory in the battle of Jericho and now they had just experience a huge defeat at Ai. What was the difference; sin.
Application
I cannot quite get over how one man’s sin affected so many innocent people. It reminds me of the text in Romans 5:19 which says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”.
There is something really important for us to learn about community. What I do affects others in my community. No one sins alone. All through the Bible and life we see how a seemingly little sin affects so many other people.
Prayer
Father, I pray that as I commit to live in obedience to your will, others will be blessed by that as well.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. Joshua 7:13
Observation
God had gone to great lengths to tell his people that if they would follow his commands they would enjoy his blessings. If also made it clear that if they didn’t follow his commands, they would be cursed. It didn’t take very long for his people to see, God meant what he said.
They had experience a tremendous victory in the battle of Jericho and now they had just experience a huge defeat at Ai. What was the difference; sin.
Application
I cannot quite get over how one man’s sin affected so many innocent people. It reminds me of the text in Romans 5:19 which says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”.
There is something really important for us to learn about community. What I do affects others in my community. No one sins alone. All through the Bible and life we see how a seemingly little sin affects so many other people.
Prayer
Father, I pray that as I commit to live in obedience to your will, others will be blessed by that as well.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Mar 19 2009 Josh 3-6 Ps 37, 1 Cor 4
Scripture
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Joshua 3:3
Observation
From the time that the Israelites left Egypt, the presence of God in a cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, went before them and led them in the way in which they should go. This cloud of God’s glory represented His visible presence with His people. By day the cloud would lead them and at night, it would settle over the tabernacle and over the Ark of the Covenant.
Here in Joshua, the cloud is no longer mentioned. When it was time for Israel to move they are now to follow the ark of God as it is carried by the priests of the Lord
Application
Joshua was trying to get them to anticipate the moving of God. They were to look and when they saw the Ark move, they were to follow. I wonder how many times have I miss out, because when God moves, I wasn’t paying attention. This can happen at church or even at home when I open my Bible.
God is moving all the time in the world around us, but most people never even notice. People see what they are looking for. What if we could begin our day by looking for God and how He might be moving around us? What a difference that would make!
Prayer
Lord, I do believe you are at work in the world all around me. I will be looking for you to move. Lord, when I see you move, please help me to follow.
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Joshua 3:3
Observation
From the time that the Israelites left Egypt, the presence of God in a cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, went before them and led them in the way in which they should go. This cloud of God’s glory represented His visible presence with His people. By day the cloud would lead them and at night, it would settle over the tabernacle and over the Ark of the Covenant.
Here in Joshua, the cloud is no longer mentioned. When it was time for Israel to move they are now to follow the ark of God as it is carried by the priests of the Lord
Application
Joshua was trying to get them to anticipate the moving of God. They were to look and when they saw the Ark move, they were to follow. I wonder how many times have I miss out, because when God moves, I wasn’t paying attention. This can happen at church or even at home when I open my Bible.
God is moving all the time in the world around us, but most people never even notice. People see what they are looking for. What if we could begin our day by looking for God and how He might be moving around us? What a difference that would make!
Prayer
Lord, I do believe you are at work in the world all around me. I will be looking for you to move. Lord, when I see you move, please help me to follow.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Mar 18 2009 Josh 1-2, 1 Cor 3
Scripture
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1Corinthians 3:6
Observation
The Apostle Paul is sharing how God works to build His kingdom. Paul knew that he had a part to play, and that it was only a part. He knew there were other parts for other people and even God gets involved in the process.
It is clear that Paul understood this as a process…first you plant, then you water and then God makes it grow.
Application
It is truly an amazing thing that God would even involve us in the work of growing his kingdom. And it is not an incidental work but a extremely important work.
All around me are places that I can plant the Gospel seed. And yes, there are places all around me that others have planted and I get to water. There is certainly an implied promise and it is this…if we will do our part, God will do His.
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see the places I may plant and that I may water. Thank you for the promise of the increase.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1Corinthians 3:6
Observation
The Apostle Paul is sharing how God works to build His kingdom. Paul knew that he had a part to play, and that it was only a part. He knew there were other parts for other people and even God gets involved in the process.
It is clear that Paul understood this as a process…first you plant, then you water and then God makes it grow.
Application
It is truly an amazing thing that God would even involve us in the work of growing his kingdom. And it is not an incidental work but a extremely important work.
All around me are places that I can plant the Gospel seed. And yes, there are places all around me that others have planted and I get to water. There is certainly an implied promise and it is this…if we will do our part, God will do His.
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see the places I may plant and that I may water. Thank you for the promise of the increase.
Mar 17 2009 Deut 32-34, 1 Cor 2
Scripture
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places. Deuteronomy 33:29
Observation
Surely Israel knew something big was getting ready to happen. As it turns out, God is getting ready to do something new in their life, but not with Moses. Moses leadership was coming to an end and Israel needed to be reassured that God was their leader and he would fulfill His promise.
Application
There are times in our lives when God is ready to do something new but before He does we have to be willing to let go us other things. Change is never easy, but with God change is always for the better.
God uses people to bring blessing into my life. In this case He is going to use Joshua. But he wants them and me to know, He is the one who protects me, He is the one who blesses me and He is the who is leading me.
Prayer
Lord, please help me not to hang too tightly on the past when you are moving me into the future.
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places. Deuteronomy 33:29
Observation
Surely Israel knew something big was getting ready to happen. As it turns out, God is getting ready to do something new in their life, but not with Moses. Moses leadership was coming to an end and Israel needed to be reassured that God was their leader and he would fulfill His promise.
Application
There are times in our lives when God is ready to do something new but before He does we have to be willing to let go us other things. Change is never easy, but with God change is always for the better.
God uses people to bring blessing into my life. In this case He is going to use Joshua. But he wants them and me to know, He is the one who protects me, He is the one who blesses me and He is the who is leading me.
Prayer
Lord, please help me not to hang too tightly on the past when you are moving me into the future.
Mar 16 2009 Deut 30-31, Ps 40, 1 Cor 1
Scripture
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are. Corinthians 1:27-28
Observation
You would think God would choose to save the world through a powerful, charismatic leader who could wield power wisely and crush God’s enemies. But God doesn’t work the way we do. God’s ways are not the same as our ways and we don’t always understand his methods. Rather than send a powerful hero into the world, he sent a defenseless baby.
It seems God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.
Application
God still works this way in our lives. He deliberately chooses to work in ways that challenge my thinking and understanding. We look at a situation and the answer seems so obvious to us and then God does what He wants to do and how He wants to do it. It always leaves me stunned and amazed.
I guess when it really comes down to it, this is what makes following Jesus so exciting.
Prayer
Lord, I know I will never be able to fully understand your greatness. Thank you for working in my life in ways I have never dreamed of.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are. Corinthians 1:27-28
Observation
You would think God would choose to save the world through a powerful, charismatic leader who could wield power wisely and crush God’s enemies. But God doesn’t work the way we do. God’s ways are not the same as our ways and we don’t always understand his methods. Rather than send a powerful hero into the world, he sent a defenseless baby.
It seems God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.
Application
God still works this way in our lives. He deliberately chooses to work in ways that challenge my thinking and understanding. We look at a situation and the answer seems so obvious to us and then God does what He wants to do and how He wants to do it. It always leaves me stunned and amazed.
I guess when it really comes down to it, this is what makes following Jesus so exciting.
Prayer
Lord, I know I will never be able to fully understand your greatness. Thank you for working in my life in ways I have never dreamed of.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
