Scripture: Joshua 23:9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.
Observe: The Israelites had conquered the land, but it was God who had gone before them. They were outnumbered and yet they won. Just as in the first chapter of Joshua, the admonition of verse 11, "SO BE VERY CAREFUL". This chapter mentions careful to love, first chapter meditate on God's word.
Apply: For some reason God has been impressing me with Great Commandment before Great Commission. I need to love the Lord before I go out and do for the Lord. I get so busy doing and not making sure I am positioning myself to just love the Lord.
Pray: Jesus, I need to ask you to give me the desire for you. Give me a love for you. Joshua before he died said be very careful to the love the Lord. Help me to be careful to create environments that foster love for you. IJN, Amen
Scripture: Psalm 102:13-19 Observation: God has mercy on us, in part, because he made us- he knows that we are made of dust. He remembers when he made us. We're like grass- we sprout up, only to be mowed down, and our clippings blow away in the wind. But God's mercy is from beginning to end.
Application: I need to have a healthy fear of the Lord because he created me and sustains me. All that I am is from Him (whatever is good). However, it is not the fear of a tyrant, but from a loving God who understands my limitations. It's like when I catch one of my kids doing something that I've done wrong- repeating my sin. I have mercy on them because I understand their nature- and God understands mine. Although I didn't inherit my sinful nature from God, like my kids inherited mine.
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you remember that I am dust. You expect, demand, and desire holiness from me, but you knowe what I'm up against. Help me to fear you as I should even when I run to you. You demand, yet you are merciful from beginning to end. I need to show mercy to my family just as you do. Amen.
SCRIPTURE "For the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you. Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23:9-11)
"They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them." (Psalm 44:3) OBSERVATION There were times under Moses and Joshua when the Children of Israel forgot God and followed their own desires and agendas. This led to two generations of people wandering through the desert, never getting to enjoy the fruit of the Promised Land. They lived a hard life, always moving and wary of the enemy nations that surrounded them.
There were other times when they loved God and followed His instructions. It was during these times that the Israelites flourished and blossomed; they were invincible against their enemies, took possession of the entire Promised Land and enjoyed all that it had to offer.
As Psalms says, they didn't conquer the land with their swords; it was the strong arm of the Lord. It was the presence of the Lord and His power that made all the difference, but the people's hearts turned toward and tuned in to God predicated it. Our individual situations today are no different. In order for God to work powerfully in our lives we must be listening to His voice and following His instruction. And while this doesn't guarantee us a life with no problems, it does give a foundation and strength when problems hit. APPLICATION If He can send thousands of soldiers fleeing from the Israelites, if He can part the seas, if He can feed over 5000 from 2 fish and 2 loaves of bread, then He can work miracles in our lives. But just like the children of Israel, if we put ourselves before Him, if our desires and agenda are more important than Him, then we will likely wander in the desert.
I must check my motivations daily and be sure to keep Him first in my life. This has to be intentional because it's so easy to stray a little to the left or right. There is power in following Him closely and being in His will, that power is available to each of us. PRAYER Dear Heavenly Father, Please help me to check myself and let me know when I slip off-course. Give me the strength, discipline and courage to follow You and only You. May I represent You well.
Title: Be Careful to Love the Lord
ReplyDeleteMentor: Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 23:9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.
Observe: The Israelites had conquered the land, but it was God who had gone before them. They were outnumbered and yet they won. Just as in the first chapter of Joshua, the admonition of verse 11, "SO BE VERY CAREFUL". This chapter mentions careful to love, first chapter meditate on God's word.
Apply: For some reason God has been impressing me with Great Commandment before Great Commission. I need to love the Lord before I go out and do for the Lord. I get so busy doing and not making sure I am positioning myself to just love the Lord.
Pray: Jesus, I need to ask you to give me the desire for you. Give me a love for you. Joshua before he died said be very careful to the love the Lord. Help me to be careful to create environments that foster love for you. IJN, Amen
Title: Dust In The Wind
ReplyDeleteScripture: Psalm 102:13-19
Observation: God has mercy on us, in part, because he made us- he knows that we are made of dust. He remembers when he made us. We're like grass- we sprout up, only to be mowed down, and our clippings blow away in the wind. But God's mercy is from beginning to end.
Application: I need to have a healthy fear of the Lord because he created me and sustains me. All that I am is from Him (whatever is good). However, it is not the fear of a tyrant, but from a loving God who understands my limitations. It's like when I catch one of my kids doing something that I've done wrong- repeating my sin. I have mercy on them because I understand their nature- and God understands mine. Although I didn't inherit my sinful nature from God, like my kids inherited mine.
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you remember that I am dust. You expect, demand, and desire holiness from me, but you knowe what I'm up against. Help me to fear you as I should even when I run to you. You demand, yet you are merciful from beginning to end. I need to show mercy to my family just as you do. Amen.
TITLE: Turn Toward and Tune In
ReplyDeleteMENTOR: JOSHUA
SCRIPTURE
"For the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you. Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23:9-11)
"They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them." (Psalm 44:3)
OBSERVATION
There were times under Moses and Joshua when the Children of Israel forgot God and followed their own desires and agendas. This led to two generations of people wandering through the desert, never getting to enjoy the fruit of the Promised Land. They lived a hard life, always moving and wary of the enemy nations that surrounded them.
There were other times when they loved God and followed His instructions. It was during these times that the Israelites flourished and blossomed; they were invincible against their enemies, took possession of the entire Promised Land and enjoyed all that it had to offer.
As Psalms says, they didn't conquer the land with their swords; it was the strong arm of the Lord. It was the presence of the Lord and His power that made all the difference, but the people's hearts turned toward and tuned in to God predicated it. Our individual situations today are no different. In order for God to work powerfully in our lives we must be listening to His voice and following His instruction. And while this doesn't guarantee us a life with no problems, it does give a foundation and strength when problems hit.
APPLICATION
If He can send thousands of soldiers fleeing from the Israelites, if He can part the seas, if He can feed over 5000 from 2 fish and 2 loaves of bread, then He can work miracles in our lives. But just like the children of Israel, if we put ourselves before Him, if our desires and agenda are more important than Him, then we will likely wander in the desert.
I must check my motivations daily and be sure to keep Him first in my life. This has to be intentional because it's so easy to stray a little to the left or right. There is power in following Him closely and being in His will, that power is available to each of us.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to check myself and let me know when I slip off-course. Give me the strength, discipline and courage to follow You and only You. May I represent You well.
In Jesus name,
Amen