Church Blog (Page 13)

Read: Joshua 16-18 Focus Verse: “Joshua said to the Israelites: ‘How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” (Jos 18:3).  Devotion: The land is already theirs. The wars are done, the battles stopped, and the people can take the land whenever, yet they hesitate. Why? Maybe they were…

Read: Joshua 12-15 Focus Verse: “Then the land had rest from war.” (Jos 14:15b).  Devotion: It took a while to get there, but the wars were over and the land rested. They defeated 31 kings in all, wow! (Jos 12:24b). I can imagine that took years! It did take years, because “…Joshua had grown old…” (Jos 13:1). So in the course of Joshua’s lifetime it was…

Read: Joshua 9-11 Focus Verse: “All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.” (Jos 11:5).  Devotion: So the tale of the LORD and Joshua’s battles has reached far and wide. We see that kings are becoming so afraid of what they have been hearing that they are working together. What can bring kingdoms…

Read: Joshua 5-8 Focus Verse: “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.” (Joshua 7:10-11). Devotion: Joshua had a moment of doubt. He…

Read: Joshua 1-4 Focus Verse: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-7). Devotion: Joshua has BIG shoes to…

Read: Deuteronomy 32-34 Focus Verse: “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.” (Deut 32:47a).  Devotion: What is the commitment we have to Christ? I know this passage is Moses impressing on Israel to take the law to heart, but it raised this question in me. The commitment the baptism I have, and share, in Christ should never be just idle words. Idle…

Read: Deuteronomy 30-31 Focus Verse: “I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” (Deu 31:21b).  Devotion: Over and over the people are warned, if they love God things will go well, if they abandon God, things won’t and God will be mad. Just before Moses dies and Israel crosses the Jordan, God admits that he…

Read: Deuteronomy 28-29 Focus Verse: “There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.” (Deuteronomy 28:65b-66).  Devotion: This is the state Israel will be in if they ignore or break relationship with God. This is in…