Victory in Christ

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”  These well known words from Joshua 24:15 were spoken by Joshua to the tribes. Their response was one that would be expected.  They said they could not forsake the God who brought them out of slavery and did all these great things for them. Joshua’s response to them was “You are not able to serve the LORD…”(24:19). Did he really mean that there was no way they could serve God? He wanted them to understand the seriousness of the promise that they were making. He goes on to tell them that Jehovah is a holy and jealous God. Just like God expected the Israelites to serve Him and Him only, He expects the same of us today. The idols of today may not look like the idols that they worshiped, but they can still pull us just as far away from serving our Heavenly Father if we will let them.

Today’s reading: Joshua 19-21

Joshua was guided by God to assign the land in Canaan to the Israelites. Each of the twelve tribes were given an allotment of land. The children of Joseph were separated into two; the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph’s descendants complained to Joshua and said they should be allotted more land. (Joshua 17:14)  Their reason was that they were a “great people”. Joshua’s response was perfect.  He told them if they were great, then they had the power to go clear all the trees off their land and then they would have more usable land. (v. 15)  This was a land promised and given to the Israelites by God.  God by His providence had given each group an assigned area.  These people knew this, but they still wanted something better.  Each of us has been blessed much more than we deserve, but are we ever guilty of being like the descendants of Joseph?  Joshua’s answer is still fitting today. Our life and everything in it is from God. If we feel like we deserve more, maybe we need to “clear the trees”.

Today’s reading: Joshua 16-18

Caleb reminded Joshua of an inheritance that had been promised to him because of his obedience. “So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’” (Joshua 14:9)  We are also promised an inheritance if we are obedient. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:3-4) 

Today’s reading: Joshua 12-15

In Joshua 11:15 we again read of Joshua following God’s plan completely.  “He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.”  Could he have followed most of God’s commands and been ok?  Could he have changed around one or two things that he wanted to do differently?  What if he thought he had some ideas about how do to things that would be simpler than God’s way?  Maybe he learned from what happened when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. (Numbers 20:10-13)  God wants full obedience from us today just like he did with Joshua and Moses. Romans 2:6-8

Today’s reading: Joshua 9-11

In Joshua chapter 6 we read of God’s command to Joshua on how to take the city of Jericho.  They were to march around the city once a day for six days.  Then on the seventh day they were to march around it seven times.  How would that help win a battle?  It won the battle because God is in control.  It won the battle because Joshua and the Israelites followed God’s plan exactly how He spelled it out to them.  In Hebrews 11:30 we read that the walls fell down by faith.  “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”  Let us all have an obedient faith that strong!

Today’s reading: Joshua 5-8

The book of Joshua begins with the Lord preparing a leader to replace Moses.  Two times in the first chapter God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous (vs. 6, 9) and a third time He tells him to be strong and very courageous (v. 7).  In between those admonitions He speaks to Joshua the words recorded in verse 8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” These words were spoken to Joshua for his encouragement and they were preserved by our Heavenly Father for our encouragement as well. 

Today’s reading: Joshua 1-4

Many times in scripture God is described as a rock.  “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)  Hannah included the comparison in her prayer.  “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2)  David had a song about God saving him from his enemies that included a rock.  “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” (2 Samuel 22:2)  Just like the Psalmist spoke of, God is our rock and refuge if we will just go to Him.  “Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” (Psalm 71:3)

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 32-34; Psalm 91

God sent His words to the people thru Moses.  “These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.” (Deuteronomy 29:1)  He told them that anything they needed to know He would share with them, but some things only God knows.  “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)  He also let them know that His Word was readily available to them if they would just put forth the effort.  “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)  The old law was abolished with our Savior’s sacrifice and His New Covenant is close to us today if we will just put forth the effort to study it.  “For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);” (Romans 10:5-8)

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 30-31

As they were given the Promised Land, God also gave the people commands of what he expected of them.  “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)  Like the Israelites, we will be judged based on our response to His Word.  “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:6-8)

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 27-29

In this section of scripture we read very specific laws from God.  These Old Testament laws were made obsolete by our Savior on the cross.  “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)  In the verses immediately prior to these we see how we can be joined with Him in His burial and resurrection.  “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12)

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 24-26