MARCH ARCHIVES
March 1st
V - Vision
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Deuteronomy 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
I once had a friend who
owned a really nice telescope. With it you could see for miles up into the sky.
We would look on this star map that he had and then scan the sky until we found
the star or planet we were looking for. The funny thing was that almost as soon
as we took our eye off the lens and tried to find the object in the sky with our
human eye alone, we would lose it in the mass of other stars and planets. But if
we did not move the telescope or change its focus we could quickly find it again
when we looked through it using its magnifying powers. Having a Vision in life
is not like having a dream. A dream is sort of like hoping that things will
happen. In dreams we can fly, jump high and tumble. And sometimes those dreams
turn into nightmares. A vicious villain of sort will pop up and try to hurt us
or someone we care about. Dreams are really uncontrollable. A vision on the
other hand is directed outlook toward the future. Just as my friend’s telescope
allowed us to view one particular star, a vision for life will keep us on track
toward an outcome. An attainable outcome. God warned the Children of Israel
about something that all too often happens today. He told them when you get
where you want to be, (in the land you have envisioned because of my promises to
you) and have your nice homes, gardens, your finances are doing well and things
are going great, don’t forget who brought you there. God was saying; keep Me as
the focal point of all your visions. He was saying when you look around and I
seem to be lost in all the clutter of material goods around you, put your eye
back to the lens and see me. Put your eyes back into His word and your visions
becomes clear. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming, wishing or hoping. But let’s
not get that confused with a Godly Vision. In
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
When looking to tomorrow, do not forget today. The life you’ve led up to this point will help you on your way. With God right there to guide you, you just might hear Him say, I know all your tomorrows, as if they were today.
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March 2nd
E - Economics
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Behold, I set
before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the
commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if
ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of
the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not
known.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
There use to be a television commercial for an oil filter where the man would ask the customer if he wanted to replace his oil filter with the oil change or not. While the man was thinking it over the mechanic would point to a car that was having a major overhaul and say the famous line, “you can pay me now or you can pay me later.” The idea was simple. You’re going to pay for this filter somehow. A few dollars today or hundreds of dollars later, but you are going to end up paying for it. Several phrases have been used to picture the same thing. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Or “A Stitch in time saves nine.” God also tells Israel and us the same thing. Just as the mechanic told the customer to use the filter to keep impurities out of his engine, God tells us to use the filter of His Holy Word to keep impurities out of our life. Replacing the oil filter brought with it certain benefits of a smooth running engine. Neglecting it would cost dearly in repairs. Filtering our life through the pages of God’s Word brings with it blessings. Failing to do so costs us dearly in emotional and physical problems in life. God told Israel if you will keep my commandments, one of which is to have no other God’s above Him, I will bless you. But if you chase after other gods that you do not know I will not only withhold the blessings but also you will bring upon yourself a curse. Many Christians today wonder why their financial life is in a shambles, but they worship the god of money and chase what proves to be an elusive goal. They wonder why they have family problems, but they serve the god of self and want only what seems to feed their lustful desires. God said there were to be no other gods before Him. NONE!. Choose you this day whom you will serve. I guess another way of saying it is, you can serve Him now, or serve Him later. But sooner or later every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
To get the blessings we must know and worship the blesser. Praise the Lord.
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March 3rd
R – Relationships and Romance
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Deuteronomy 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
How would you feel if
someone you thought loved you came up to you and said “you know what? You’re
weird. And you’re not just a little weird, but very strange. Sort of out in
left field. Not with the program. Different from all the other people I know.”
Now admit it, that would not make you feel real good. It sounds like they are
saying they think you’re one french-fry short of a happy meal. But if they
looked at you with admiration and said “you know what, you’re not like anyone
I know. I have never ever met a person like you and that excites me. Your sort
of in a field all your own and different from anyone I have ever knew. In a
weird sort of way I find you to be intriguing.” Now the mood has changed a
bit. They are not calling you an odd ball, but rather your uniqueness sets you
apart from everyone else and that’s good. When God called Israel a peculiar
people He meant that He had set them apart to be different from everyone else.
He looked upon them as a special group of people that he was going to do
special things for. Actually the word peculiar in the verse today means a
special treasure, which has great value. Not that they were to be odd or look
weird. But that He had chosen them out of all the millions of people to be his
most valued treasure. In
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Want to start an interesting conversation? Here’s what you need to do. Copy this devotion and keep it handy. When you meet that special someone look them right in the face and say “know what? you’re peculiar.” Be sure to explain quickly. Hummmm!
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March 4th
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March 5th
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March 6th
R – Roles and Responsibilities
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Want to start a holy
war? Open a discussion whether or not women should to wear pants. And even if
some say yes, you get into the type of pants. The length must be just so and
the cut can’t be too tight or too loose. It seems easier with men. Most men do
not desire to wear dresses. And pantyhose is out of the question. Yet in the
era in which this verse was written, men and women both wore similar garments.
A tunic or robe. There were subtle differences in how they would adorn
themselves. It seems the women’s were made out a softer material and maybe
layered with different colors. But you might say they all wore dresses at that
time. (Still no panty hose.) So what was it that God could have been talking
about? When it says a woman shall not wear that which pertained to a man, the
implication is a strong man or a man of war. Women were not to put on the
Armor of men as had become a practice in the worship of Venus among the
Canaanites. Also men were seen adorned with jewelry and veils to appear as
women for many reasons. Some used it in attempt to escape war. Some thought it
brought magical powers and they could predict and even weaken an enemy’s army
saying they would be weak like women if they dressed this way. But mostly it
was that men and women were dressing as the opposite sex as transvestites with
wicked sexual behaviors. These practices were often associated with the
worship of pagan gods and idols. God refers to this behavior in the same way
He does homosexuality, “an abomination.” No matter how you look at it you have
to conclude at least this. God considered his creation of the man and the woman
as sacred. Although He created both in His image, He created each in a unique
and distinguishingly different design. A wonderful masterpiece each one. Any
attempt to distort or eliminate His distinction is called an abomination. God
says you can’t fix perfection.
LETTING THE WORD
AFFECT OUR LIVES:
I pray this devotion does not stir up arguments, but rather causes us to rejoice in our difference. God created each of us with something special in mind. Isn’t it wonderful that you were not a cookie mold production? God created you special.
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March 7th
E – Each Other
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Have you ever thought what it would be like to be homeless? Few of those that are homeless thought about it either. To live unsure of where your next meal is coming from or where you might sleep a few hours without being interrupted or told to move. Living in the north presents another dimension to the struggles of homelessness. Our bitter cold winters take the lives of several each year. Often these people are rejected, considered bums and ignorant. But if you’d spend time in a homeless shelter around your area you will find men, women and families that have possibly made one or two wrong decisions and ended up homeless. Some had those decisions made for them. With the global economy allowing companies to seek cheaper labor worldwide, it often leaves hard working, upstanding people, who dedicated several years to a company, suddenly without an income. Pretty soon all their savings are gone paying bills while trying to find new employment or an illness occurs while they have no insurance and that depletes the nest egg they were depending on. They find themselves where they never thought of being. Homeless! Dependent on others to help them get through something they never imagined would happen to them. Sure, there are some out there that are homeless because of drug abuse or alcohol. There are some that are in this condition because they are too lazy to work. But when you get into the shelters and look into the eyes of those children you realize something, the children did nothing wrong to deserve what has happened. God said during the formation of Israel as a nation, be sure to give some to the less fortunate. Be sure they are fed that live within your gates. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to the problem and pretend like it does not happen in your town. But easy is not often right. As you spend time with family or friends take a moment to thank God for all His provisions for you. Then share.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
What can you do to help? Everyone can not give money. But you might be able to donate a few minutes a week to help. Ask God how you might help those less fortunate than you. Remember, they, just like you, never dreamt this would happen.
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March 8th
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March 9th
E - Economics
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
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.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
What would you say the quickest way to gaining wealth would be? You could invent something and have it sell by the millions. But then you have the process of creating a prototype, building it, selling it to a manufacturer, marketing it to the public, and waiting for it to sell. Not really that quick. You could go find a good paying job and work real hard, put in all the overtime you can and save save save. Then if your investments paid off, you might become wealthy. And although that is honorable, it is really not the quickest way. The quickest way I can think of is for someone with wealth to just give it to me. No re-creating something, and no years of labor and investing. Just find someone that has the riches I desire and have them give it to me. But now how would I go about doing that? First of all where do I find such an individual? Secondly how do I become successful at making them want to give me what they have? Wait a minute. I already know someone that has everything I have ever wanted. GOD! He owns it all. And how do I get Him to want to give it to me? He tells me that in His book called the Bible. Meditate on His word and learn what pleases Him. And one of the things I have found that pleases Him is to bless those that are being obedient to the book he wrote. Some of you are saying, Frank, I know you, you’re not wealthy. But friend you are wrong. I have a mansion that I never paid for or built. I have received eternal everlasting life to be lived out in heaven when I am done here. Now that’s a health plan that you can buy with all the money in the world. I have all my sins forgiven and my conscious clean. What would some people pay for that? And on top of that, I receive blessing from God while here on earth on a regular basis. I don’t really know how you measure wealth and success. But as far as I can see I’m RICH!
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Our economic standings can not always be measured with earthly guidelines. The rewards of knowing and serving the God of all creation bring about peace and joy that can only be described as HEAVENLY.
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March 10th
R – Relationships and Romance
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 2: 12, 13 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Family is so important. When I was younger my sister and I would fight and argue. My mom said we fought like cats and dogs. You would have thought that my desire was for her to be beat to death. But one day on our way to school a couple of the neighborhood bullies started picking on her. They were knocking her books out of her hands and just being mean. I came running over and told them to leave her alone and walked the rest of the way home with her. Why would I do that? Just the day before we were fighting. The answer…she’s my sister and I love her. It was sort of like if anyone would fight with her it would be me, but no one else. Another example was that my mother spoke rather loudly. (I wonder who I take after?) We would tease around about how loud she got sometimes. I would literally set the phone on the counter and set back and talk with her. And that was before phones had speaker phones. Yup, she could project her voice. And it seemed funny at times to talk about it. But after a while of someone else talking about my mom it began to hurt. It was funny as a family, but not to hear others repeat it. Why? It’s family. As much as we fight and scratch and call each other names, family is so very important. And no matter what family you marry into, you have to remember a large part of your relationship to them will include your relationship to their family. When Rahab looked to save herself from God’s judgment on her people, she did not only want to save herself, but also her family. God also knew the importance of family. In Ephesians 2:19 Paul says “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” Part of the household or the family of God make you part of a very special family. We might fight and argue a bit amongst ourselves on occasion, but there is a love there that is special.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
As important as family is to you,
remember that when you start a new one. Some day someone may be looking back
at all you did and modeling their family after yours.
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March 11th
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March 12th
O - Openness
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 9: 18, 19
And the children of Israel
smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by
the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by
the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
When is a pledge or promise no longer a promise? Or maybe a better way of asking this question would be when is a pledge or promise no longer to be kept. Some might say, “If I make a promise to you and you make a promise to me and you do not hold up on your promise then I am no longer obligated to hold up on my promise.” The problem is that sounds more like a business agreement or a contract that a promise. It all comes down to integrity. If you make a promise, it should be based on what you are able and willing to do no matter what. The children of Israel understood this. When representatives from surrounding nations lied and tricked Israel’s leaders into believing that they were from a far off land, the leadership made a league with them that they would not harm them or the people of their country. A league is another way of saying, a pledge, to swear an oath, or make a promise. Three days later when they found out that these representatives had lied and tricked them it did not change their league or promise. You see their promise was not based on the representatives. They made a promise based on their relationship to God. For them to go back on their promise regardless of how it was obtained to them was the same as saying that their God could not be trusted. That is why the Bible warns of about making vows or promises we will not keep. Today the divorce rate around the world is astounding. Partly because people are basing their willingness to keep their promise on what someone else says or does. Marriage vows do not ask “Will you if they do.” When you say I do it is not “I do if they will.” And just as with the children of Israel, when you have a Christian church wedding you are making these pledges not only in front of the people present, but also before God. People tend to forget. God never forgets. We would all do well to think through our promises more carefully to keep our integrity and that of the God we represent in tact.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Today might be a good day to go over your oaths and promises you have made. Ask God to help you keep your part of every promise no matter what others do.
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March
13th
R – Roles and Responsibilities
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 11:15
As the LORD commanded Moses
his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing
undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
One day I was visiting the home of a friend. We sat and had coffee and they said “I never seem to have time for anything. How is it that you seem to do so much?” My answer was the same as it has always been. I get up in the morning begin working and when I get tired I take a nap. I get back up and keep going until time for bed and then I go to sleep. The next morning I rejoice in the fact I have awoke to be able to do something again today. And I get busy and start all over again. But as I walked through their home I also noticed something. On the table was a half completed jigsaw puzzle. He said he worked on it from time to time. In the garage was a lawnmower engine in pieces on his workbench. He said it had been there a couple of years and someday he planned to get to it. Over and over as I journeyed through the daily life of this man I began to see his problem. The reason he never felt as though he ever got anything done was that that he never seemed to complete anything. As we talked some more and I shared my thought on this with him, he realized that this indeed was the problem. It was not that he was not doing anything, but that he never completed anything before he went on to the next task. Nothing ever did get completely done. My suggestion was for him to look at all the projects he had going, prioritize them from one through however many he had and then get busy on number one. Of course there may be times you have to stop and attend to one of the other projects for a moment, but when your done do not get side tracked by all the other projects. Go back to number one and complete it. Joshua was God’s man of choice because God knew that Joshua would complete the job as it was given. Our verse today said “he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.” Part of our responsibility of being a good steward of what God has given us, is for us to complete the things in life God gives us to do.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
If life seems to be cluttered with too much to do, don’t blame your boss, your spouse, your friends or God. Step back, pray, and ask God for wisdom as to what to do first and then get busy. And leave nothing undone that God gives for you to do.
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March 14th
E – Each Other
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
It is
good to have friends. I mean real friends. Not acquaintances that forget you
as soon as you’re out of sight. Not people that are there for you when things
are great, but when life deals you a bad hand they are hard to find. I’m
talking about friends that stay friends for the long haul. In Joshua fourteen
there is a story that is so special. In the midst of Joshua doing as God asked
of him to divide the land something special happens. It begins in verse six
when an old friend comes up to ask for something. His name is Caleb. You
remember Caleb right? He was the only other one of the twelve men sent out to
spy on the Promised Land that came back and said we can take it, let’s go. He
had to be one of very few men that were Joshua’s age. The rest you remember
all died in the wilderness. And now this old friend comes up to remind Joshua
of a special day over forty years ago. To abbreviate the story a bit he says
Joshua you remember, it was just us. We were the only ones that believed God
could help us take the land that day. And look at me? Even at my age God has
kept me strong. Strong enough to fight and take this land. Now Joshua, you are
the only one that is still alive and can remember hearing God speak of this
mountain. And I have just as much faith in God today as I did over forty years
ago. With His help I can take that mountain. Joshua, give me that mountain.
You can probably imagine the flood of emotions that went through Joshua’s
heart as he remembered them as younger men going in and seeing all that God
had promised. Recalling how they came back and only his friend Caleb stood by
him in faith that God would deliver the land to them. Seeing in his minds eye
this old friend that walked over all those miles in the desert and watched all
the men their age die one by one as God had decreed. As he looked into his
friends longing eyes and thought how could I give you less than what God
desired for you my friend?
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Good friends are very hard to find. The kind that tell you the truth when you need to hear it and are there in the rough times. Won’t you make it easy for someone else to find a person like that? Be a good friend to someone today and forever.
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March 15th
V - Vision
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Where are my keys? With those famous words the hunt begins. All the pockets of all the coats that may have been worn are searched. The desk tops and bedroom dressers are next. Pants pockets, key rack, car ignition are all on the list. People that would have never touched the keys are employed into the search. As by now it is apparent, and possibly acclaimed, that someone surely has broken into the house and stolen the keys. Although they left the car that the keys went to, there seems to be no other logical explanation. Suddenly someone yells here are your keys laying right here in plain sight. And almost magically, as to appear out of no where, low and behold there are the keys. The idea that this place was overlooked in the search by someone seems impossible. At once the memory of placing them there earlier comes back. All the searching, screaming and blaming seems so silly now. They were right there all along. And now with keys in hand the day is back on track and schedules can be met. So what was the problem? Did the keys move? Probably not. The problem was that even though they were there all along, they were being overlooked. Maybe walked past several times in a search of other locations. But still the keys were just simply overlooked. Joshua was upset with the children of Israel because even though they had defeated the Canaanites and drove them off the land, they still had not possessed it. He asks “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?” They had become so busy defeating people and winning wars they were missing the blessing of the land God had given them as they went on their way. Looking all around they were thinking, where is our part of the land? Sort of like the keys. They were there all along, but in your mind every other place seemed more logical. So many blessings are ours for the taking. Right there in the pages of God’s word. All we need to do is look and see that they were there all along.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
The
Bible is full of promises for the believer. As your read this week, start to
look for the ones written to you as a New Testament believer. Then ask
yourself, how long will you be slack in possessing the promises God has given
you?
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March 16th
E - Economics
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 22:8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
One for all, all for one. Sounds sort of like the three musketeers doesn’t it? And what a great idea. Everyone looking out for the one and that one helps look out for the rest. In today’s verse we find the tribes that set up camp on the other side of Jordan receiving reward. You remember them. They were the ones whose families stayed on the other side of Jordan, but agreed to go and battle for the Promised Land until it was taken. At the time of the agreement, nothing was said of coming home wealthy. They simply agreed to go and help battle the enemies of the land for the rest of Israel before they came back to the place promised them. But not only were they coming home, but they were coming home rich. It was all for ONE! They had helped to overcome the inhabitants of the land so they received a portion of the items won in war. But remember it was one for ALL. Not only they who went to battle received reward, but any that remained home, cultivated the land and guarded the families of the soldiers also received a share of the goods. It was evident the soldiers could not have gone and fought with a peaceful heart if they did not know that their loved ones were protected and provided for. It might have been easy for a soldier to say, “I was there, I was in the battle, I took the risk, I deserve more.” But the one who remained behind could also say, “I was here, I worked the fields, I risked doing this for someone that might not come back.” Both were important and God said share and share alike. Today as God blesses some more than others we sometimes wonder why. But if you watch the Christians that are being blessed financially they are often the ones that are giving liberally. God gives to them because He knows they will share what they have with those God wants to bless. One for all, all for one. It should be the motto of today’s church.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
God’s blessing are just that. God’s blessings. The Bible says in
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March 17th
R – Romance and Relationships
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 23:11-13 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder it has been said. Joshua knew in his final days, that if Israel did not keep their hearts and minds focused on the Lord and His provisions for them, they would lust for things they should not have, including marriage to the wrong people. God would provide for each of them a mate. But if they would not wait upon the Lord to show them that person for their life, their flesh would begin to lust after those that they should not marry. Nothing has changed in all these years. I have told countless people they should not be dating someone that’s unsaved. They say things like oh pastor it’s not serious were just friends. Next thing you know they are planning weddings. I have recommended that they do not marry. But they say what am I suppose to do, I love them? The answer is you were suppose to listen way back when the first warning was given. If you do not look you will not lust. Do not play in poison Ivy and you will not get the rash. The reason young and old alike marry the wrong person is that they have not obeyed the Word of God in waiting for the right person. Instead they think they will somehow change that person. Sometimes that works, most often it does not. Society today has made such a mockery out of marriage that most people feel they can marry, if it doesn’t work out they can divorce and no one gets hurt. That is so far from true. Everyone gets hurt and we miss out on God’s best when we go out on our own. Just as Joshua told the children of Israel, know that God will not bless you in your disobedience to Him. But know this too. God desires to bless you. To give you the fullness of His love. A good life, happy home, blessed relationship and daily communion with Him. All he asks is that you be patient and let Him give those things to you.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Psalm 37:9 says “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.”
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March 18th
F - Foundation
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Joshua 10:8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
What General or Leader of any conflict in the world would not like to have the knowledge that they were without any doubt going to win the battle they were marching into? Every military leader would love that. But few, very few get that. They plan and plot and strategize and then pray that they have done the right thing. Joshua did not have to do that. God simply told him don’t worry about it, I will deliver them into your hand. He did not tell Joshua you do not have to fight. He did not say well just lay around here in the camp and I will go fight this battle for you. Had Joshua not believed God and not gone out to battle, even thought God said the battle would be won, it would not. Why? Because Joshua had to believe God and go and show his faith in God’s promises. Today we as Christians have so many promises given by God. We are victors in the battle over death. God said in 1 Corinthians 15 he had defeated death and the grave. And we can be victors in that also if we are in Christ Jesus. The key here is we must do something. We must place ourselves in Christ Jesus. Jesus also said that we can have victory over sin. In Romans 6 it says that if we are given over to Christ our sin was crucified with Him. We do not have to serve sin. Over and over God has told us that we can live a victories Christian life. But He did not say we could do nothing. He says Go into all the world. Exhort One another. Serve the Lord with Gladness. Rejoice in the Lord. Sing Psalms and Hymns. Pray earnestly and without ceasing. These are all things God has told us in the bible to do. And all things He will bless. But we must trust Him and do our part. If He created us and knows us better than we know ourselves, then would He not also know what will truly bring us the most joy in life? Ok Just like the first question in the devotion the answer is obvious. Yes, He does
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Find
God’s truths in His word and then be obedient to them. It will bring you more
joy than doing it your own way. God is a God of love and joy. Experience that
love today.
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March 19th
O - Openness
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Judges 3:9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
The Bible so often becomes a mirror that reflects our lives. How so you may ask? Well let’s begin by taking a look at today’s verse where it says “the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.” The phrase in itself is not so alarming. It is what the people of God’s choosing should do if they are in trouble. But a couple of things pop out in further reading. This cry to the Lord is repeated several times in the chapters to come. In fact, verse fifteen of this chapter and verse three of the next repeat this very line again. The children of Israel seemed to find themselves often straying from God’s best in their life to a point that sin begins to destroy them. Then out comes the repetitive cry. “Oh God Help us!” And amazingly, He does. This was not a feeble cry “God help us live in this sin happily.” It was a cry of repentance each and every time. A sincere cry for God’s forgiveness and a willingness to surrender to His will. And when God heard that and knew they were serious, He stepped in and God’s grace and mercy took over. As with the sinner today that offers a repentant cry to the Lord for salvation. God’s grace and mercy step in and save that soul. And when the Christian finds themselves struggling with a sinful area of life and humbles themselves before God to cry out God, I’ll do anything, and means it, God steps in. His power, might and victory over sin are poured out on a completely repentant heart. He will do for us what He did for Israel. Send a deliverer. In each case Israel had to be willing to follow and be obedient to God’s leading. They had to fight for what they desired, but God was leading the charge and God was victorious in the battle for them. They still had to get up and be obedient. And so do we. When we ask God to fix something in our life and He shows us how, we must obey. If we don’t do what God tells us to, we can’t blame Him when life doesn’t change.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
As we look at the mirror of God’s Word it shows us a formula for success in life. Humble ourselves. Put God and others first. Ask for forgiveness and forgive where necessary. And be willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. A reflection of Christ in His Word.
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March 20th
R – Roles and Responsibilities
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Judges 8:22-23 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
What would you think if tomorrow you walked in and all the employees gathered around you and said “listen we would like to make you president of the company.” Maybe they would say something like “we have been watching you and we see in you the leadership qualities that we want. You’re a person we could get behind and follow.” Once the swelling in your head goes away you might realize there is just one big problem with this request. The one who is president now is still in charge. No one has died, retired or given up their position. It is just the employees that are looking for a change. It’s nice to be liked and great to be admired. But in reality could you be the president? Have you ever done that job? Do you really know what the day to day life of the person in charge is like? It may not be as easy as you think. Israel was asking Gideon to do a job that Gideon was wise enough to turn down for two reasons. One, he knew he was not qualified for the position of being the ruler of these people. Two, God was watching and still in control. The Children of Israel saw Gideon leading the charges against their enemies and forgot that God was the one winning all the battles. Gideon knew where his strength came from. Although the people saw what they thought was a great leader they had forgotten about the real boss. They could not see Him working so they did just like so many people do today and just assume that He is not. But in actuality God is the one that is in total control of every detail of every life. It’s nice to be liked. It’s great to be honored. It’s wise to know who is really in control. Our role as husband or wife is to be all that God has called us to be. And then do all that God equips us to do.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Everyone is a leader whether they want to be or not. With your life you are either leading people to Christ or away from Him. Where are you taking people today?
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March 21st
E – Each Other
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Judges 11:26-27
While Israel dwelt
in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities
that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did
ye not recover them within that time? Wherefore I have not sinned against
thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge
this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
You had your chance! That’s what Jephthah was saying to the king of the people of Ammon. He said you had your chance years ago when we came and wanted to travel through the land but you and all your friends said no and came out to battle against us. We did not argue with you we went around. But God did not forget. You had your chance when we camped in the cities not far from here. You could have tried to make things right then, but you did not, and we did not say a thing. But God did not forget. Several times you have had the chance to be a friend of ours and of our God, but you have chosen to chase after those other gods. We did not force our beliefs on you. But God did not forget. And now you want us to forfeit this land that God has given us? You think we are wrong for moving forward? Ask your god to give you what you have coming and I will ask our God to do the same and lets see who is left on the land. Because like I have said, God does not forget. And folks we have the same God today. People think they are getting away with sin, but God does not forget. People think they can blaspheme a Holy God, But God does not forget. And although it may not seem that God pours out His judgment quick enough to suit us, God does always judge sin. Why? Because God does not forget. He keeps good records. The books in heaven are a filled with the details of the lives we live. And although God does not forget, He does forgive. If someone comes to Him with a broken and repentant heart. God always forgives. If we turn from our sin and forsake it and run to the Saviour, God will always forgive. The king of the children of Ammon had that chance, but the Bible says he would not listen to the warning of Jephthah. We should be continually warning one another before it’s too late.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
The best part of this is that when God forgives, He removes our sins from us
and remembers them no more. If you come and ask for forgiveness for a sin He
has forgiven He might well look down from heaven and ask, “What sin is that
you’re talking about?”
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March 22nd
V - Vision
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Judges 13:8
Then Manoah intreated the
LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come
again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be
born.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Parts lay out all over the floor. Pieces that don’t even look like they go with this new toy. Instructions written in twenty seven different languages, b