Joshua 10 [The Message]

As Christians, we are engaged in a struggle for the health of our soul. Our enemy, the devil and our own flesh, are determined to prevent us from experiencing God’s best for our lives. In the way Joshua and the Hebrew army annihilated their foes in Canaan, we are likewise to aim to completely destroy the enemies of our spiritual well-being. We are not to tolerate sin in the least. Kill it. Mortify it.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: [Col. 3:5]

Joshua 9 [The Message]

The Gibeonites heard about Israel’s conquests and were terrified that they too would be destroyed at the hand of God’s people. So, they devised a ruse to strike a deal with Israel that would insure their safety. They lied to Joshua and the leaders about who they were and where they were from. Failing to consult God about this, Israel’s leaders agreed to preserve them, only to find out that they were deceived by the Gibeonites. They honored their agreement, but lived to regret it.

Life’s options are not always as they appear to be. The enemy of our soul can paint a tempting picture to make sin attractive to us. It’s always built upon a LIE. “Eat this and it won’t hurt you!” “Do this and you will be better for it.” “You don’t really need to do that to please God.” And on and on … the devil can paint an attractive picture of a life of disobedience.

We must measure every temptation by God’s Word. How does it stack up to scripture. The Holy Spirit is very helpful in this debate. He will bring to your mind the verses that you need to pay heed to. Then, God’s grace is available to you to give you the strength to make the right decision and to stick to it.

RESIST THE DEVIL and he will flee from you. [James 4:7]

Joshua 7, 8 [The Message]

Israel suffered a confounding defeat at AI all because of one man’s sin. Achan stole some plunder from the city when God had said, “No plunder.” His disobedience was the single reason Israel was defeated.

God explained to Joshua what the infraction was and how to remedy it. Achan and his family were stoned to death for his disobedience. As soon as the restitution was made, God re-instructed Joshua and the army to return to the place of their defeat and DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME. A great victory ensued and the wrong had been made right.

Prayerfully consider the defeats you’ve experienced. Allow the Lord to reveal your missteps. Confess all sin to Him and be forgiven. Your slate has been made clean. Seek Him for a fresh action strategy. Proceed in confidence that He is with you and you shall obtain the victory through your faith.

Joshua 4-6 [The Message]

After the Hebrews had crossed the Jordan and witnessed a mighty miracle, they were obedient and submitted to circumcision. Painful though it was, at the conclusion, God came to Joshua as the Commander of the Lord’s Armies. Joshua knelt before the Lord upon the holy ground.

Although God is always watching and keeping us, He responds affirmatively to our obedience. We need His presence as we take steps in the direction of our next conquest.

Your obedience may take the form of a period of fasting, or the forsaking of a particular sin.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [Heb. 12:1]

Joshua 2, 3 [The Message]

God performed a mighty miracle for the Hebrews as they stood on the eastern side of the Jordan River en route to Jericho. He stopped the flow of the river so that they could walk across on dry ground. This miracle was very similar to the crossing of the Red Sea. It’s as if God was saying, “I performed a great miracle for your parents. Now, here’s your own miracle.

God’s miracle power HAS NOT DIMINISHED! He can and will do for you what He’s done for those who have gone before you. Is there an uncross able river of resistance in front of you, preventing you from entering His Promises? Bring His Spirit to bear by calling upon the Name of Jesus and take that first step into the water. Then, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord.

Joshua 1 [The Message]

God told Joshua to take up the mantle of leadership from Moses and move forward into the Promised Land. Then God spoke these critical words to Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” [Joshua 1:9]

We go forward NOT because we’re merely ambitious or aggressive. We don’t act on our self-confidence. We are not motivated by fear. We move forward because the Lord is WITH US. We live by the faith and grace He gives.

It makes sense to seek FIRST the Lord and His presence before we even think about taking another step. Then, we proceed. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Deut. 30-34 [The Message]

Moses was 120 years old and still had a spring in his step. His eyes were sharp and obviously so was his mind. He still had a strong voice to teach the Israelites new music. He was prolific … he wrote the first five books of the Bible. He could still climb to the top of a mountain to see the Promised Land. He was an amazing man whom God kept alive ling enough to accomplish his purposes.

I envy him. My health has gone downhill in recent years. I am motivated to seek God for the health He gave to Moses.

Lord, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done.

Deut. 29, 30 [The Message]

Here is the simple declaration: “Choose Life … and you will live in God’s blessings!”

The choice for the Children of Israel who had just completed the 40 years in the wilderness was keep God’s Law and be blessed, or forsake it and be cursed.

Our choice is accept or reject Christ. Jesus IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. We don’t come by the Law of Moses. We can’t possible comply with every detail of God’s Law, BUT JESUS DID!

The Law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. It teaches us what sin is. But, it is not our Way. Jesus is our Way to the Father.

Deut. 29 [The Message]

I have found that reading God’s Word keeps me grounded and peaceful when I hear distressing news from the political landscape of our nation. His Word reminds us that NOTHING escapes His knowledge and control. He’s isn’t caught off guard by the latest elections. He has NEVER needed elections to bring about His will.

When election results identify weaknesses in our government, we just need to put our prayer focus upon the perceived pressure points. Then,we watch God work.

Don’t let your joy be robbed by any political disappointments. Dive back into God’s Word and pray for His Will to be done and His Kingdom to come.

Deut 28 [The Message]

(Sorry I’ve missed several days. I’ve been ill but I’m now on the mend. Thanks to my wife for taking care of me.)

Moses lists and describes the blessings and curses resultant from either obedience or disobedience to God’s laws. It’s sad that his warnings were not enough to deter God’s people from disobedience.

God needed a man to break the chain of disobedience and provide a way to live in His blessings without being perfect. That Man, that Way was Christ.

For (God) hath made (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [2 Cor. 5:21]