Joshua needed guidance as he faced one of the most crucial moments of his life. Because the Lord had promised him success in conquering Jericho, he knew the outcome of the battle, but as the day of combat approached, he needed a specific strategy for victory. What he heard the Lord say must have made his jaw drop.
Can you imagine the soldiers' thoughts as they carried out this bizarre battle strategy? In confusing times like this, it's good to remember three requirements for benefiting from God's instructions. We need:
• Faith to believe the Lord
• Courage to obey Him
• Patience to wait for His timing.
When God gives us clear instruction through His Word or His Spirit within us, our response shows how much we trust Him. If we truly believe Him and His promises, precise and complete obedience will follow. His victory in any area of struggle is available only to those who act upon His directions.
Submitting to the Lord's timing is also an essential part of obedience. What would have happened if the army decided to bypass God's plans for the first six days and skip straight to the seventh day's march around Jericho? They would have missed the victory.
How often do we beg the Lord for guidance, yet hesitate to obey when He finally gives it? Living by faith can seem like a huge risk when His instructions make no sense or require a lengthy wait. But knowing His eternal perspective and unlimited power can strengthen our resolve to obey.
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
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Welcome to the Priesthood
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Christians are a kingdom of priests, so in order to understand what that means, let’s look at what someone had to do to become a priest in the Old Testament.
The first thing the priest did was bathe from head to toe. This symbolized that he was saved (see Titus 3:5). When we are saved, we are bathed from head to toe in Christ’s cleansing blood.
After his bath, the priest received a linen garment, which symbolized the righteousness that is provided by our Lord.
Then he was anointed with oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
How encouraging to discover God’s Word flowing from the Old to the New Testament to describe such essential details of the believer.
ACTION POINT:
Have you been bathed in the cleansing blood? Are you aware you’re wearing a robe (the righteousness of Christ)? The Holy Spirit lives within you. As you go through your day today, be ever mindful: you are a priest—chosen, royal, holy, set apart for Him.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Christians are a kingdom of priests, so in order to understand what that means, let’s look at what someone had to do to become a priest in the Old Testament.
The first thing the priest did was bathe from head to toe. This symbolized that he was saved (see Titus 3:5). When we are saved, we are bathed from head to toe in Christ’s cleansing blood.
After his bath, the priest received a linen garment, which symbolized the righteousness that is provided by our Lord.
Then he was anointed with oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
How encouraging to discover God’s Word flowing from the Old to the New Testament to describe such essential details of the believer.
ACTION POINT:
Have you been bathed in the cleansing blood? Are you aware you’re wearing a robe (the righteousness of Christ)? The Holy Spirit lives within you. As you go through your day today, be ever mindful: you are a priest—chosen, royal, holy, set apart for Him.
~Adrian Rogers~
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Today's reading: 2 Samuel 19:24-30
When David returns to once again take his place as king, one of the first people he encounters is Saul's grandson and Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth. (As you probably recall, we read back in 2 Samuel 9 how David took Mephibosheth in, restored his family's land, and basically treated him as one of his own sons after the death of Saul and Jonathan.)
As I took in the exchange between these two men, I was moved by the depth of Mephibosheth's love, and his concern, for David. Rather than being pleased with David's dethroning by Absalom (like Mephibosheth's servant Ziba led David to believe), Mephibosheth is devastated by this turn of events. His appearance, actions and words are telling.
How can you be a "Mephibosheth" this week? Who needs to hear that you love them and are grateful for the part they've played in your life?
~Tami~
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Song of Solomon 1:7
Thou whom my soul loveth.
It is well to be able, without any "if" or "but," to say of the Lord Jesus-"Thou whom my soul loveth." Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love Him; they trust they love Him; but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give any rest to his spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance. We ought not to be satisfied with a superficial hope that Jesus loves us, and with a bare trust that we love Him. The old saints did not generally speak with "buts," and "ifs," and "hopes," and "trusts," but they spoke positively and plainly. "I know whom I have believed," saith Paul. "I know that my Redeemer liveth," saith Job. Get positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and be not satisfied till you can speak of your interest in Him as a reality, which you have made sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit, and His seal upon your soul by faith. True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit's work, and must be wrought in the heart by Him. He is the efficient cause of it; but the logical reason why we love Jesus lies in Himself. Why do we love Jesus? Because He first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because He "gave Himself for us." We have life through His death; we have peace through His blood. Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor. Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of His person. We are filled with a sense of His beauty! an admiration of His charms! a consciousness of His infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims, "Yea, He is altogether lovely." Blessed love this-a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!
~Charles Spurgeon~
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Hold Fast
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel that I preached to you, which also, you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
One day, I spent time with a patient who had just been diagnosed the day before with breast cancer that had spread to her brain, liver and lungs. She was a young woman in her forties. I met her on the Oncology Unit in the hospital where doctors were just beginning a treatment plan. This patient seemed to have a peace. She spoke to me about her signs and symptoms that led up to this diagnosis; she was honest with her emotions and heart’s desires to get better. When I had asked her what her source of strength was during this time, she told me that over 300 people were praying for her and that she had wonderful family members and friends to see her through this difficult time. As the conversation continued, I asked her if she had the assurance of her salvation. I asked her if she had ever accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. Her answer was quick and confident as she said, “I don’t need to do that because my father is a minister. I have the church’s support.” My heart was grieved for there aren’t any grandchildren in heaven. God wants to adopt sons and daughters into His Kingdom. God desires to personally raise each one of us, to call us each by name and for His kids to call back to Him, “Daddy,” knowing that His arm isn’t too short too save or ear too dull to hear the cry of His own children.
Becoming a child of God and receiving the assurance that you are His child is so easy. However, we resist so hard. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul lays down the basics of salvation again. A child of God accepts that Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully man, and that He died on a cross for our sins, He was buried and rose from the dead three days later. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. His death on the cross allowed sinful man to have a relationship with a Holy God. His resurrection gives us the power to live this earthly life for His purposes, instead of our own. Romans 10:9-13 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” If you want to be sure that you have come to know the Lord Jesus in a personal way, pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins and forgiving me. I want you to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want to live for You as I believe You died for me. Thank You for hearing my prayer. I want Your Spirit to fill me.
~Daily Disciples Devotional~
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Looking to the Master
In 2 Kings 6:5, we read the second in our series of seven principles to regain our spiritual edge. It is the response of the man who lost his cutting edge,
But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed."
When this man lost his ax head and it fell into the water, he cried out and said, "Alas, master!" He went to the prophet.
The prophet was God's representative in that day. He was the mouthpiece of God. If you wanted to hear from God, you went to the prophet, and the prophet would give a word from God.
Today, thank goodness, we have direct access to God as individuals. We can go directly to the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Master. And that is the second principle to regaining your spiritual edge. You need to realize the only One who can restore your edge once it is lost, is the Lord Jesus Himself.
You need to get your eyes off of men and get your eyes on the Master. Some people make a great mistake because they have their eyes on men. You will always be disappointed if your eyes are on men instead of on the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is only One who can help you regain your spiritual edge, and that is Jesus Christ. No man or woman can take His place.
So today, put your eyes on the Master. Cry out to Him to help you regain your spiritual edge.
~Bayless Conley~
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel that I preached to you, which also, you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
One day, I spent time with a patient who had just been diagnosed the day before with breast cancer that had spread to her brain, liver and lungs. She was a young woman in her forties. I met her on the Oncology Unit in the hospital where doctors were just beginning a treatment plan. This patient seemed to have a peace. She spoke to me about her signs and symptoms that led up to this diagnosis; she was honest with her emotions and heart’s desires to get better. When I had asked her what her source of strength was during this time, she told me that over 300 people were praying for her and that she had wonderful family members and friends to see her through this difficult time. As the conversation continued, I asked her if she had the assurance of her salvation. I asked her if she had ever accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. Her answer was quick and confident as she said, “I don’t need to do that because my father is a minister. I have the church’s support.” My heart was grieved for there aren’t any grandchildren in heaven. God wants to adopt sons and daughters into His Kingdom. God desires to personally raise each one of us, to call us each by name and for His kids to call back to Him, “Daddy,” knowing that His arm isn’t too short too save or ear too dull to hear the cry of His own children.
Becoming a child of God and receiving the assurance that you are His child is so easy. However, we resist so hard. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul lays down the basics of salvation again. A child of God accepts that Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully man, and that He died on a cross for our sins, He was buried and rose from the dead three days later. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. His death on the cross allowed sinful man to have a relationship with a Holy God. His resurrection gives us the power to live this earthly life for His purposes, instead of our own. Romans 10:9-13 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” If you want to be sure that you have come to know the Lord Jesus in a personal way, pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins and forgiving me. I want you to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want to live for You as I believe You died for me. Thank You for hearing my prayer. I want Your Spirit to fill me.
~Daily Disciples Devotional~
___________________________
Looking to the Master
In 2 Kings 6:5, we read the second in our series of seven principles to regain our spiritual edge. It is the response of the man who lost his cutting edge,
But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed."
When this man lost his ax head and it fell into the water, he cried out and said, "Alas, master!" He went to the prophet.
The prophet was God's representative in that day. He was the mouthpiece of God. If you wanted to hear from God, you went to the prophet, and the prophet would give a word from God.
Today, thank goodness, we have direct access to God as individuals. We can go directly to the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Master. And that is the second principle to regaining your spiritual edge. You need to realize the only One who can restore your edge once it is lost, is the Lord Jesus Himself.
You need to get your eyes off of men and get your eyes on the Master. Some people make a great mistake because they have their eyes on men. You will always be disappointed if your eyes are on men instead of on the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is only One who can help you regain your spiritual edge, and that is Jesus Christ. No man or woman can take His place.
So today, put your eyes on the Master. Cry out to Him to help you regain your spiritual edge.
~Bayless Conley~
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