March 9, 2010

Today's reading: Joshua 12, 13, 14; Psalm 9, 39, 69, 99, 129; Proverbs 9

Joshua 13:1, "Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."

Joshua 14:14, "Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel."

I have enjoyed very much typing this blog each day. I really enjoy walking down memory lane and relating things from my past that somehow bring a chuckle to you or a challenge from the Scriptures.

I realized yesterday that I am getting older and it is beginning to really take it's toll on me. My mind is fading and I do not remember things well anymore. This is very frustrating to say the least. The more that I trod down memory lane the older I feel.

I attended a training meeting yesterday where at least 50% of those in attendance are still in high school in their respective areas. They all got a laugh when I told them I have food in the fridge older than them.

One important thing I must remember as I get older is that should I retire one day that does not mean I retire from the work of the Lord. I do not retire from the battles that I fight for the Lord. So many people retire from jobs of numerous years and then buy a motor home and go to such and such a place or they buy a retirement home in such and such a place and they seemingly retire from God's harvest field also. This should not be.

We have in our two passages today, two men that were getting older but they kept up the fight of faith. They wanted to smell the odor of the battle smoke rising from the field. You and I must be the same way. We are loosing our children and grandchildren by the droves to the world, the flesh and the devil. Wake up Christian, we are in a battle for the souls of men!

Christian do you have on your armor with your shield and especially your sword? Get dressed and let's go to the battle. Will you?

March 8, 2010

Today's reading: Joshua 9, 10, 11; Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8

Joshua 9:14, "And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD."

I remember growing up on the farm I would often go walking around the farm and find all kinds of things to do. One particular time I went into the shop and began to look around for something to do. I found some wood and began to cut it up. I made what looked like a boat. I was so excited. I took my new boat to the creek and put it in. It did not take too long for my excitement to fade away into disgust. My boat sank.

I took it back to the shop and left it until it dried out. I then painted it with some silver paint that we used to pain the plow with. The paint would seal the metal on the part that went into the ground and keep it from rusting until the next spring.

This time I took the "boat" out to the water trough where the horses drank and tried it again. It sank to the bottom again. It was far too heavy and would never float. In my anger I got a drill and put a bit into it and drilled a bunch of holes in my "boat". I turned my prized "boat" into a pencil holder. It was pretty much worthless. Such is life.

The problem was that I did not ask for help. I did not try to find some plans to show me how to make the "boat". If I had asked for help my "boat" might have actually floated. Nothing like floating your own boat.

Okay, I know that was pathetic. My point today is that just like God's people we go about life doing our own thing, our own way. This is a problem. If we are going do God's will, God's way then we need to consult with Him first. God's people did not pray or consult with Him before making a league with these strangers and then it came back on them. They found out these people lied to them and then they were in a bad situation.

You and I need to consult with God and with godly Christians who are mature and get counsel before we make decision because if it is a wrong decision it could haunt us for a long time.

Any big decision coming up in the near future? Check with God.

March 7, 2010

Today's reading: Joshua 6, 7, 8; Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, 127; Proverbs 7

Joshua 7:4, "So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai."

The nation of Israel were going to battle with Ai after their big victory at Jericho. Remember how the seventh day that they circled the city seven times and then the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted. The walls fell down flat upon themselves and the Israelites went in and destroyed the city. The problem was that a man named Achan took a Babylonian garment, silver and gold. God had told them not to take the "accursed" things. When going into battle against Ai they were sent running away because of sin in the camp.

God would not let His children get away with sin in the camp. Look at Joshua 7:11, "Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff." We get too caught up in "stuff" and not the things that please the Lord. This ought not to be.

Sin brings consequences. Look at Joshua 7:15, "And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel." God took very seriously the sin of Achan. He takes our sin seriously also. Look at Joshua 7:24-25, "And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones." For some gold, silver and clothes not only did Achan die but his family and all his animals too. There are severe consequences for sin.

No matter how hard we try we will not prosper living in known sin. Look at Psalm 127:1, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." We can work our fingers to the bone; but, if God is not in it then it is an exercise in futility or vanity. We must keep a short account with God on this thing of sin so that we can live our lives in such a way that will please Him and bring Him glory and honor.

Any sin in your camp?

March 6, 2010

Today's reading: Joshua 3, 4, 5; Psalm 6, 36, 66, 96, 126; Proverbs 6

Joshua 3:8, "And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan."

So many of us feel like we are living in trials. Someone once said that in your life you are either coming out of a trial or about to go into a trial. This is comforting is it not? My thoughts were drawn to our text for today when I was reading, "ye shall stand still in Jordan."

I am told that the Jordan river was known for flooding and could be a treacherous place to be. So think for a minute with me. Let's put ourselves in the place of the Israelite people. We are following the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant. The priests walk right into the water and stand there. This is our pattern.

The ark of the covenant is a representation of the presence of God. If we are going to be successful (as we saw the other day) then we must follow God and dwell in His presence. When we do this God will work on our behalf.

Notice Joshua 3:13, "And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap." Trials in our lives can look like the Jordan river to us. We stand at the brink and look at them and we only see a limited part of the big picture. God is seeing the whole picture and He desires for us to just follow Him and walk on into the water so that He can part them and show Himself strong in our lives.

There are people out there that are experiencing things that are similar to your and my situation and they are watching you and I to see if we respond any differently. As God's child we must respond in a way that brings honor and glory to God. This will draw them to God and show them that we possess something that they need.

Trials are like the door of a department store. You are either going in or coming out of it. So, my friend, are you going out or coming in? Trust the LORD!

March 5, 2010

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 34; Joshua 1, 2; Psalm 5, 35, 65, 95, 125; Proverbs 5

Joshua 1:8, "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."

In our text today there is listed for us one of the buzz words of today. That word is success. I find it interesting that it is only mentioned one time in all of Scripture. There are all kinds of "success gurus" out there that will sell you their particular thingy that will assure you manifold success. I just watch those infomercials and laugh. The reason they are so successful is that people are subscribing to their wares and sending them money.

So how do you and I have godly success?

First we must know God. Look at Deuteronomy 34:10, "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,". What a testimony about Moses and his relationship with the Lord. To know someone "face to face" is to know them intimately. You would know their very heartbeat. We should have this kind of relationship with the Lord. We should be so in tune with Him that we know His every desire or heartache or ...

Second we must follow God. Look at Joshua 2:1, "And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there." I love the story of Rahab. It is a beautiful picture of salvation. If you and I are going to be successful we must follow God. We cannot follow the world and their philosophy. This will not allow us to be pleasing and acceptable to God. Part of the problem today is that the Church looks and acts so much like the world that you cannot tell the difference in the two. This ought not to be!

Thirdly we must talk to God. Look at Psalm 65:2, "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." We all have an appointment with death no matter. If you have been born then you have a death date all set and only God knows when that is exactly. If we know God and we follow Him then we will want to talk to Him. That is all that prayer really is. It is talking to God like you would talk to anyone else. So many people think that prayer is some flowery speech that sounds oh so "religious"; but, it is not. God said that "vain repetition" is not how to get your prayers answered. Being in a right relationship with God at all times will allow us the assurance that when we pray we will receive an answer.

Fourthly we must confess and forsake all known sin in our lives. Look at Proverbs 5:22-23, "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." Sin is a terrible thing that you and I are born with. We can live a life that pleases God and be successful if we will just keep a short account with God. By that I mean that we confess our sin often so that we keep the lines of communication open at all times between us and God. It is like taking a bath. When you are finished with your bath you feel so clean. When you pray and ask forgiveness for sin then you are spiritually clean.

So friend, how successful are you today in God's eyes? I hope you hold God's view of success.

March 4, 2010

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 31, 32, 33; Psalm 4, 34, 64, 94, 124; Proverbs 4

Deuteronomy 32:11-12, "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him."

Many of you know that a favorite topic of mine is right here in our verse for today. I am fascinated by eagles. We are told that this passage is taken from a song that God told Moses to write for the Israelites in Deuteronomy 31:19, "Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel."

The song was to remind them of where they came from and what happens when they would forsake God. He also reminds them that if they turn from their sin, to Him that He would restore them.

In verses 11 and 12 we see some powerful illustrations. Notice "As an eagle stirreth up her nest,". When the baby eagle begins to grow and venture out away from the nest their parents will begin to take away the hide lining of the nest and throw it away. Then the baby gets back and things have changed. It is not as comfortable as it once was. This causes the baby to venture out away from the nest eventually.

Now that the baby is leaving the nest the mother will begin to teach the baby to fly. Notice, "fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:". The mother will put the baby on her back and take off from the rock. She will eventually fly straight up and then do a barrel roll and knock the baby off her back. As the baby is falling the mother is flying just above him and is yelling to him to stretch out his wings and fly. This process goes on and on until the baby realizes that his mother is doing it and he can too.

This is a picture of God's dealing with His children. One thing I did not mention about this training time is that during this time the father is flying in circles above and keeping watch over what is going on. Also the baby eagle while falling does not realize that their parents can fly faster than he can fall.

I hope that you and I will remember the example of the eagle and how God lovingly deals with His children. Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Stretch out your wings and fly!

March 3, 2010

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 28, 29, 30; Psalm 3, 33, 63, 93, 123; Proverbs 3

Deuteronomy 30:20, "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

We heard a good message on Biblical priorities tonight. We need to be reminded from time to time what our priorities should be. It is so easy to get caught up in the every day world and their thinking. This is when we loose sight of our priorities.

Our number one priority should be God. We must put God first in all that we do. It is so much more than the silly braclets that people wear proclaiming, 'WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do). This is a nice thought; but, if we do not practice it then it is no good. I know a man who would wear said braclet and curse like a sailor and do all kind of abominable things. It is sad.

We need to love God with all of our heart. We need to whole heartedly serve Him with all of our heart, mind and might. He is worthy of it. If we get the first priority correct in our lives then the rest of them are sure to follow right in line.

After being challenged tonight I need to set down and evaluate again what my priorities are and make sure that God is number one. How about you?