One of my favorite narratives in the entire Bible is the description of Joshua leading the people of Israel to cross the Jordan River so that they could occupy the promise land. God had been patiently preparing the Israelites for decades to enter the promise land and the stage was set for a miracle to be treasured for generations.
Joshua prepared the people with the following instructions, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5 NLT). In spite the Jordan River being at flood stage, Joshua instructed the Jewish Priests to lead the way in crossing the river by carrying the Ark of the Covenant and to take a true step of faith into the river. The people were promised, “As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall” (Joshua 3:13 NLT).
Once the Israelites crossed (on dry ground) to the other side of the Jordan River, Joshua led the people to recognize that they had truly experienced a miracle of God. Joshua praised God with the following statement, “The Lord did this so all people would know he has great power and so you would always respect the Lord your God” (Joshua 4:24 NCV)
Here are some questions for each of us to ask ourselves: Is God longing to work miracles in my life? Is the Lord first calling me to purify my heart of self reliance, lack of faith, impure motives, or other sins that are standing in the way of Him being honored in my life? Is God calling me to take a step of faith that I can’t see the outcome prior to taking the first step? Am I willing to anticipate God working miracles in my life and in the life of the church?
Could it be that the Lord God is longing to work miraculously in our lives and yet He is waiting for us to take a step into a flooded river?
Corresponding Bible Reading: Joshua 3:1-6:27
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Open Hands or Closed Hands?
As we read through the Bible we see God’s character and his expressed will for his people. One amazing quality of the Lord is his generosity. This generosity is repeatedly seen throughout Scripture with the ultimate example of God graciously sending his Son.
God in turn teaches His people to be generous to others. This emphasis on generosity did not begin with the Christian era, but was also emphasized in God’s instructions to the Israelites. The fifth book of the Old Testament entitled Deuteronomy, which literally means “second law” is a description of Moses retelling God’s law to the people of Israel before he passes the baton of leadership to the next generation.
Moses reminded the people of his day and the people of God in every generation to have a heart of generosity toward those who are poor. Moses said, “But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need.” Deuteronomy 15:7-8 NLT.
It is a temptation to be hard-hearted toward those who are facing difficulties, and criticize them for mistakes they have made in the past. The truth is we have all made bad choices and for some of us God has generously blessed us in spite of our mistakes. It is God’s will for people of faith to look at the poor and disadvantaged not with eyes of judgment but with eyes of mercy.
Along with a call to have a generous heart, Moses reminds us to unclench our fists and extend and open hand to those who are in need. Do you find yourself hard-hearted and tightfisted toward those in need around you? Or are you learning to be generous and open your hands and even at times your purse strings to help someone who is in need?
Corresponding Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 15:1-18:22
God in turn teaches His people to be generous to others. This emphasis on generosity did not begin with the Christian era, but was also emphasized in God’s instructions to the Israelites. The fifth book of the Old Testament entitled Deuteronomy, which literally means “second law” is a description of Moses retelling God’s law to the people of Israel before he passes the baton of leadership to the next generation.
Moses reminded the people of his day and the people of God in every generation to have a heart of generosity toward those who are poor. Moses said, “But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need.” Deuteronomy 15:7-8 NLT.
It is a temptation to be hard-hearted toward those who are facing difficulties, and criticize them for mistakes they have made in the past. The truth is we have all made bad choices and for some of us God has generously blessed us in spite of our mistakes. It is God’s will for people of faith to look at the poor and disadvantaged not with eyes of judgment but with eyes of mercy.
Along with a call to have a generous heart, Moses reminds us to unclench our fists and extend and open hand to those who are in need. Do you find yourself hard-hearted and tightfisted toward those in need around you? Or are you learning to be generous and open your hands and even at times your purse strings to help someone who is in need?
Corresponding Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 15:1-18:22
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Journaling
I have personally struggled with being consistent in the daily practice of journaling. Journaling is the spiritual discipline of recording in a notebook, diary, or computer file the faith lessons that a believer is learning in his (or her) personal relationship with God. In my daily Bible reading this morning, I was reminded of the importance of putting into practice this discipline in my walk with the Lord. In the Biblical narrative of the Israelites preparing to enter the long awaited Promise Land, it is recorded, “At the LORD's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages …” Numbers 33:2 NIV
It appears that the Lord commanded Moses to record Israel’s progress stage by stage so that they (and we) could later look back on their journey and be reminded of God’s intervention in their lives. Through journaling and then later revisiting our journal entries, we are reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness to us in the past and it gives us hope and confidence for the future.
There are many benefits that come from journaling. One of the positive byproducts of journaling is that we can learn from past missteps and learn how to avoid them in the future. But probably the most important benefit is to be reminded of the Lord’s presence and power in our lives. An excellent article written by Kimberli J. Brackett on the blessings of journaling is found at the following web address …. www.heartlight.org/articles/200605/20060524_godthing.html.
Brackett wrote … “Journaling allows us to see the fingerprints of God all over our lives and the lives of the people he has so graciously given to us to love and to share in this journey. The power will start with writing your "God things" down, but it will grow even stronger when you go back and re-read the pages and remember. You will be amazed at how page after page of the evidence of God in your life will grow your faith! It's only as our faith grows that we can begin to bestow on our Father the honor and praise he so richly deserves. It's only as our faith grows that we can start to understand that "It's not an Odd thing; it's a God thing!"”
Let the journaling begin!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:56
It appears that the Lord commanded Moses to record Israel’s progress stage by stage so that they (and we) could later look back on their journey and be reminded of God’s intervention in their lives. Through journaling and then later revisiting our journal entries, we are reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness to us in the past and it gives us hope and confidence for the future.
There are many benefits that come from journaling. One of the positive byproducts of journaling is that we can learn from past missteps and learn how to avoid them in the future. But probably the most important benefit is to be reminded of the Lord’s presence and power in our lives. An excellent article written by Kimberli J. Brackett on the blessings of journaling is found at the following web address …. www.heartlight.org/articles/200605/20060524_godthing.html.
Brackett wrote … “Journaling allows us to see the fingerprints of God all over our lives and the lives of the people he has so graciously given to us to love and to share in this journey. The power will start with writing your "God things" down, but it will grow even stronger when you go back and re-read the pages and remember. You will be amazed at how page after page of the evidence of God in your life will grow your faith! It's only as our faith grows that we can begin to bestow on our Father the honor and praise he so richly deserves. It's only as our faith grows that we can start to understand that "It's not an Odd thing; it's a God thing!"”
Let the journaling begin!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:56
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Eyes of Faith or Eyes of Fear?
How do you face new challenges, new situations, and new opportunities? Are you quick to look for the opportunities and for the possibilities? Or are you quick to see the problems and the pitfalls? In many ways your response to the questions above, indicate if you are looking at life through the eyes of faith or the eyes of fear.
Approximately 1400 years before Christ, Moses led the Nation of Israel out of Egyptian Slavery and to the edge of the Promise Land. Prior to entering the Promise Land, the Lord instructed Moses to send a leader of every tribe across the Jordan River and to bring back a report to the rest of the people. Out of the twelve leaders who were sent to scout out the land, ten of the individuals came back reporting that although the land appeared extremely prosperous the risks involved in inhabiting the land were too great. These ten respected leaders gave a report through the eyes of fear.
Only two individuals (Joshua and Caleb) had eyes of faith to see beyond the challenges to see the tremendous opportunity. Joshua and Caleb told the people, "The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don't be afraid of them!" (Numbers 14:7-9 NLT).
I love how these two men of God (who were in the minority) viewed the challenges ahead with the eyes of faith to recognize that the Lord was with them and so there was nothing to fear! As you and I face challenges today and in the future, let's pray for eyes of faith that will enable us to walk confidently into the future!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Numbers 14:1-15:41
Approximately 1400 years before Christ, Moses led the Nation of Israel out of Egyptian Slavery and to the edge of the Promise Land. Prior to entering the Promise Land, the Lord instructed Moses to send a leader of every tribe across the Jordan River and to bring back a report to the rest of the people. Out of the twelve leaders who were sent to scout out the land, ten of the individuals came back reporting that although the land appeared extremely prosperous the risks involved in inhabiting the land were too great. These ten respected leaders gave a report through the eyes of fear.
Only two individuals (Joshua and Caleb) had eyes of faith to see beyond the challenges to see the tremendous opportunity. Joshua and Caleb told the people, "The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don't be afraid of them!" (Numbers 14:7-9 NLT).
I love how these two men of God (who were in the minority) viewed the challenges ahead with the eyes of faith to recognize that the Lord was with them and so there was nothing to fear! As you and I face challenges today and in the future, let's pray for eyes of faith that will enable us to walk confidently into the future!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Numbers 14:1-15:41
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