Moses had just died. Joshua was now the leader of over a million people. Think about that for a moment. Think of the incredible responsibility and the HUGE shoes he had to fill. Now, it was his job to lead this pack of rebellious, complaining, sacrilegious people into a strange land where they would engage in ferocious battles against seven wicked nations. Remember Joshua was in his 80s by now.
Talk about stress! But here in Joshua 1, the Lord encourges him three times and in the middle he tells Joshua how to find sure success!
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. 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.
Have not I commanded thee? 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 1:6-9
Notice the underlined part. This is huge and reinterated throughout Scripture. The Lord is telling Joshua to read the Scriptures! Not only read them but meditate on them, memorize them, keep them hidden in his mind and spirit. Know them! Only then will he be able to follow them and only then will the Lord make his way prosperous and successful.
Psalm 1 says the exact same thing
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Greetings Precious Daught of God Most High,
ReplyDeleteRight off the bat you got me going :) isnt the church at large still a pack of rebellious, complaining, sacrilegious people ?
Be strong and of great courage is still one of my favoeite passages. Some versions say "take" courage, and I lead a study on that. Take ! to lay hold of, to grasp, to bring it into yourself, set your face as a flint !
Amen to read and meditate ! Thats why I'm up at 3 am every morning !
Amazing people dont even know why they are in church. I have an 86 year old guy I've been driving for 3 years. He claims to Catholic. Claims he goes to church on Sunday. Yet he is constantly taking the Lords name in its many forms. I've asked him gentl a couple of times not to do that. He says it so much he doesnt even know he does it. Many are like him, they treat God's name as a common curse, drives me nuts. So he now knows who and what Jesus Christ is and why His name is Holy, Holy, Holy ! Because I told him ! Yup, gave him the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. His jaw dropped, he looked dumb founded, and sadly he remains dumb founded ! When I was all through, he repleid, well I guess going to hell then. !!! 86 years old, the light is about to out on his candle, he hears the glory of Christ, and chooses death !
Like most he thinks he's lead a good life, been a good guy. He thinks the priests have absolved him from all his sins. For 86, he hears well but does not listen.
But it's not our job to argue with this type. We preach the Gospel in clarity, kindness and truth, Thats our part, and one other thing, we pray. The rest is up to the Holy Spirit.
Christs peace
You're right, Brother! I described the present day church as well! Hadn't thought of that. Take... yes... love the definitions! We have some responsibility here.
DeleteMy heart broke at the story of that 86 year old man. There are so many like him, whether inside the Catholic church or even inside protestant churches... who know ABOUT Jesus but don't know Him at all. I pray that the Words Jesus gave you for him will sink deep into his spirit and that before he dies, he'll submit to the Lord. You never know, right? Some don't finally come to their senses until their death beds! Blessings!
I'm currently reading NLT One Year Chronological Study Bible at the suggestion of author Jessica Patch. Like you, she challenged her readers to read God's Word above anything else. I've never read the Bible chronologically before and although I've just started, I'm excited with this fresh way of spending time in the scriptures.
ReplyDeleteI love the Chronological Bible! I've gone through it a few times. It really helps put every story in a timeline and easier to understand. I pray the Lord brings you closer to Him as you read and enjoy! Blessings, Amy!
DeleteHello Sister in Christ,
ReplyDeleteI admit I have not read the Bible in the way you have with all the time in the world, for work and family have been making it a bit inconvenient to do so. However, even where there is an opportunity or downtime at work, I found myself listening to peaceful music or reading news and articles online when perhaps I could take the Bible off my shelf and read one of the books within.
Lately, I have been reading Christian articles, particularly those that focus on the End Times, and I have listed numerous Scriptural quotes in which most I already know by heart and can recite without having to consult the Bible to know the exact book, chapter, and verse. But one thing I am wondering about is that since I am reading His Word through online references and sources instead of directly through the Bible itself, would God still understand that I have not fallen away from Him nor am risking being lukewarm due to this approach? I still pray to, acknowledge, give thanks to, and confess any sins regularly on a daily basis, but I hope that God can see these as sufficient in proving that I still love Him and long to be with Him soon?
There are times when I found myself being tormented with thoughts on being resentful towards those who have wronged me in the past, but I keep telling myself “Remember God’s plan: I will be truly and dearly loved by everyone in Heaven in a way that is unreal, so take in stride the resentment and hate in this world for God also made the promise to avenge His children with real divine justice in due time.” Wouldn’t this be a proper way to resist temptation that impact the mind? I am sure the Devil constantly does this to true Believers in an attempt to draw them away from God, but I vowed that I will never fall away no matter how much I am tempted to do so.
I want to bring up that I heard the US and Iran are currently in talks about the nuclear program risks, despite what happened with the drone incident earlier this week. Do you agree that no matter how it turns out, it will not change what we true Believers and God already know what will happen in relation to prophecy?
I also realized that the Super Bowl is this coming Sunday, and based on what we have seen with past ones in terms of the content they endorse and market to viewers, is this what we can call “the distracted majority group” in terms of how people still focus on such events and other worldly pleasures and necessities instead of planning for what is coming?
Have a good weekend Sister and Peace and Blessings from a Brother in Christ.
Dear Brother.
DeleteYou are not falling away. I can tell by the words you speak. You are staying in relationship and in repentance daily. And you love the Lord and long to be with Him. Reading Christian articles and learning Bible verses is a good thing. However, it should be a supplement to actually sitting down with your Bible and reading it cover to cover. You would be surprised how much you will learn and grow from this IF you read it along with Jesus at your side and the Holy Spirit's guidance. Certain passages will leap out at you that the Lord wants you to know. Often, He will give you understanding on a certain story or passage that you've read dozens of times before, but now He gives you a different perspective. Your spiritual growth depends on this. NOT your salvation. You are clearly saved... but if you want to walk in the cool of the day with Jesus and grow in Him and be more powerful in the Spirit realm, you should really read the Bible itself. Pray about it.
Let me put it this way. Let's say you have a precious loved one, maybe a child or better yet, a wife you love so much. But she has gone away to a different country and you can't be with her right now. Over the years, she has sent you letters, thousands of them and you have compiled them in a book. But you never actually sit down and read it. Instead, you go online and read what others have said about the book and the few paragraphs others have picked out from the book.
Yes.. the talks will fail with Iran. I think Trump is buying time to get all his ducks in a row. We do know that war will break out... we just don't know when. I hear the Super Bowl half time will be more demonic and perverted this year than ever before. Yes. a major distraction for the sleeping world.
Blessings to you, Brother!
Excuse me, but I have a quick question. Is it okay to separate the judgements in Revelation by "The people who don't take the mark of the beast (The Christians alive in Christ)", "The people who take the mark of the beast but come to repentance (The Christians who die from God's plagues and are later judged by their works before the 2nd Death)", "The people who continue to have the mark of the beast (People who are not affected by God's plagues and don't want to turn away from Babylon)"? Also, would the Tribulation Saints be counted as never taking the mark of the beast?
ReplyDeleteGreetings! Anyone who takes the Mark of the Beast is damned forever. There's no repentance or turning back. That's clearly stated in the Bible. The reason is that once they take the MOB, they are no longer human because it will contain something that will drastically alter then DNA. Jesus died and rose again only for Humans. It's horrible to think of, I know, but that's the truth. Revelation 14:9-11
DeleteEveryone living during the Tribulation will suffer from all the disasters listed in Revelation. After the midpoint of the Tribulation, God's wrath is poured out. Christians living in this time who have not take the MOB may receive God's special protection but that isn't clearly stated. He will not forsake them but unlike the time we are in now, they will have to endure much tribulation and never lose their witness for Jesus.
So everyone, Christian or not, people who took the MOB or didn't, will all suffer during this time.
Tribulation Saints are those people who never took the MOB and who kept the testimony of Jesus even if it meant their death. Revelation 12:11
After the Tribulation and Jesus returns, He will reign on Earth for 1000 years. After that is the Great White Throne Judgement where the Dead who did not trust in Jesus for their salvation will rise and be judged based solely on their works. They will never enter eternity with Jesus, but will be sent to eternal damnation. But they will receive different levels of punishment. This is what the Bible teaches.
Let me end with this. God doesn't want ANYONE to end up in eternal damnation. But the choice is theirs. He offers everyone who was ever born a chance to spend eternity with Him in paradise, but He can't force people to accept His gift. People who refuse, make a choice to spend eternity without God. And since God is love, joy, peace, patience, happiness, and all the good things we love about this world, then being separated from Him means NONE of those things are there. It breaks my heart AND God's to see people end up far away from Him.
I hope I answered your questions. God Bless you and yours!