Be strong

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Joshua is the new leader. Moses has died, and he and the people with him have finally reached the Promised Land after a forty-year journey from Egyptian bondage.

God speaks directly (audibly) to Joshua. He asks him, "Have I not been your Commander?" Then God tells him, as the leader, to be strong and courageous. It is interesting to note that, in chapter one of Joshua, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous four times! Maybe Joshua doubted his leadership ability. Maybe he was afraid of what lay ahead.

As Joshua thinks about this question, and God's instruction, he realizes that he and the thousands with him have been led by the hand of God in the past, and they can now confidently walk the road ahead.

Today's verse is helpful to you, as you think about the past, live in the present and look to the future. You might be facing health challenges, financial problems, work-related issues, family difficulties, friendship concerns – or any other villain that attacks your mind.

Don't be afraid of the issues you face, nor of the unknown - and don't be discouraged, because God is on your side to help you – wherever you go!

So why do you worry?

"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Matthew 6:27

Worrying doesn't change things. A cubit is 18 inches, or approximately 45cm. We cannot, by worrying about a situation, grow in height by a cubit – or, for that matter, by a fraction of that measure – it just won't work.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Now it hasn't turned out so bad, has it? So why worry?

The antidote for worry is trust - trust Jesus – you'll do a lot better. Give Him your cares and worries, and He will make a way.

Give your heavy load to God

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

We all have a burden of some kind, and we tend to try and carry these by ourselves.

In our verse, David, the Psalmist, offers another option - cast the burden on God.

The word "cast" means to throw down. Have you been on a hike, carrying a heavy backpack? If so, you may remember arriving at a rest area and removing the pack to rest. It feels so good to not have the pack on your back - you almost float! This is how it feels when we give God our burdens.

The Psalmist had learned by experience to give God his burdens - the things that troubled his mind - and we should do the same. The verse implies that God will do the carrying, and the promise is that God will sustain us (give us strength to cope), after we give Him our burden. It goes on to say God will never permit the righteous to be moved. In other words, as you place your confidence in Him, you will not be washed away in the flood of life's troubles, but will journey in His strength.

If you are weary from carrying a burden, give it to Jesus today. He's your traveling Companion; He's the burden-Bearer.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure...

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44

In today's verse, Jesus uses the illustration of treasure, hidden in a field.

He speaks about a man finding this treasure, and hiding it.

Then the man goes and sells all that he has, in order to possess the field, so that the treasure can be his.

Some questions come to mind:

In the story, what does the treasure represent?

Why does he find it, then hide it?

Why does the man experience joy over it?

What does Jesus mean by saying "he sells all that he has"?

Something of importance is being taught by Jesus in this story. I leave you to think about these questions, as they relate to the kingdom of heaven.

I shall come forth as gold

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

Job makes another triumphant declaration (a previous one is found in 19:25, 26) in today's verse. It comes in two parts:

He knows ... When you are overwhelmed, remember, He knows. All the details of your life are open to God, who sees everything. He knows the path on which you walk; he knows what you are going through right now. God knows, and all is well.

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold ... Does it feel to you like the fiery trials of this life are burning you up? That the test is more than the strength to endure it? Gold comes out of the furnace purified; and that's how Job sees himself, coming forth (emerging from the experience) pure as gold.

May God's amazing grace surround you, and may His strength fortify you to say, as did Job, "I shall come forth from this experience, like gold."

I will restore to you the years

"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you." Joel 2:25

This verse speaks of restoration.

God's people, in Joel's day, had turned away from serving Him. Other attractions had filled their lives. God punished them for their unfaithfulness, just like He had said He would, if they continued on their wayward course. Their crops failed, the rivers dried up, the cattle and sheep had no grazing. Then the locusts moved in - God's great army. They came in swarms and consumed everything that was left, leaving desolation in their wake.

Finally God allowed another army, that of a neighboring nation, to conquer and carry His people away, captives of a foreign king.

Today's verse tells of God restoring to His people all they had lost, provided they return to Him and serve Him with all their hearts. God kept His side of the bargain.

The lesson is timeless: if you are experiencing the desolation caused by the locusts that have eaten "every green thing" in your life, His message is: "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2:12) And when you do, you will experience restoration. God is so patient with all of us - is this Amazing Grace, or what?

But he cried out all the more

Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Luke 18:39

Our verse comes from the story of a blind beggar, who lived near Jericho, and sat by the roadside begging. You can read the story in verses 35 – 43. In Mark's gospel, the blind man is identified as Bartimaeus (see Mark 10:46). He really had no name; just 'son of Timaeus'.

Blind Bart, the beggar, heard a crowd passing by one day, and asked what was going on. He was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And so he cried out, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.' The crowd tried to silence him, but he paid them no heed. He just cried out more urgently for Jesus to help him.

Then Jesus stops. Can you see the dust from the moving crowd swirling around hundreds of feet and robed bodies? Jesus calls for the blind man to be brought to Him. He gives the crowd a task to do – those who, seconds earlier, have tried to silence the beggar. They bring the blind man to Jesus. Can you smell the stench of his tattered clothes and unwashed body?

But He, who was born in a stable, who had grown up in poverty, does not shrink from touching the poor and helpless. Jesus asks, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' Bartimaeus replies, 'Lord, that I may be able to see'. Jesus touches his eyes (see Matthew's account of the story) and immediately he can see. What must it have been like? – the first he saw was the face of his Healer. No wonder he followed Jesus, praising God!

Maybe you feel today like you're a nobody – like you've been sitting in the dark for a long time, and that the passing crowd tries to silence your cries for help. Like Bart, just 'cry out the more'. Be persistent, and your cry will be heard. Take courage - Jesus is listening for the cry of His child for help!

Reaching the Goal

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13, 14

Paul is talking about arriving at a goal. The goal is to be like Jesus; to have a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ and to do the work He called him to do.

There were things in Paul's past that he is eager to forget. The past cannot be recalled, to be lived a second time - we have to move on, living in the present, and looking to the future.

We can identify with Paul – not many of us have yet arrived at the goal he mentions. The race is ongoing, and we are runners in the race – so we press on.

What is the heavenward call of God? Could it be that God is challenging us to go higher – to reach for the stars and live a life that's more like that of the perfect model, Jesus?

Success, if attained, is not a platform to stop at – it's merely a place to pause before we move on to attain the next goal. Many people have set goals, reached them and stagnated, because they never set another goal.

What goal have you set for yourself?

Jesus came to seek and to save ...

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  John 3:17 

Most of us can recite John 3:16, which tells of God's incredible love for the people of Earth and the gift of His Son, but verse 17 offers a large measure of hope also. Jesus didn't come to this earth to condemn people – God sent His Son on a mission - to seek and save.  

What a blessing it is to know that we don't have to feel guilty when we make mistakes - Jesus is there for us! He has offered to forgive us if we confess our sins – He is eager to help us in every need. Stay in contact with him through prayer. 

May you go into this day, knowing that you have a Friend who won't abandon you, and confident of Jesus' love and care for you.

God is with you, wherever you go

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Joshua is the new leader. Moses has died, and he and the people with him have finally reached the Promised Land after a forty-year journey from Egyptian bondage.

God speaks directly (audibly) to Joshua. He asks him, "Have I not been your Commander?" Then God tells him, as the leader, to be strong and courageous. It is interesting to note that, in chapter one of Joshua, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous four times! Maybe Joshua doubted his leadership ability. Maybe he was afraid of what lay ahead.

As Joshua thinks about this question, and God's instruction, he realizes that he and the thousands with him have been led by the hand of God in the past, and they can now confidently walk the road ahead.

Today's verse is helpful to you, as you think about the past, live in the present and look to the future. You might be facing health challenges, financial problems, work-related issues, family difficulties, friendship concerns – or any other villain that attacks your mind.

Don't be afraid of the issues you face, nor of the unknown - and don't be discouraged, because God is on your side to help you – wherever you go!

At evening it will be light

"But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light." Zechariah 14:7

If we read the verse in its context, we discover that the prophet is speaking about the day of the LORD – when Jesus returns at His Second Coming. He says that on that day there will be no light – the lights grow dim and there will be darkness, "but at evening time it shall happen that it will be light." Christ appears and His brilliance illuminates the darkness. This is how it was at His first coming – the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds, and at the start of Christ's ministry, Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled, "the people who sat in darkness saw a great light." (Matthew 4:16)

When we were small, some of us were afraid of the dark. Some grownups are still afraid of the dark. But when there's a light, how different the night looks! The light swallows up any fear people may have, and they have courage.

There's a deeper meaning to our verse: When the light of day fades into evening - when the confidence you had in times of prosperity turns to fear, and even terror in the time of adversity, remember, God is still there – He has promised, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

Do you find yourself in some kind of darkness? Whatever form that darkness may take, God promises that the dark of night will be illuminated by His presence.

More abundant life

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

In today's text we see the contrast between the thief and the Lifegiver.

Jesus talks about the thief – Satan – whose purpose is to steal peace and happiness from the people of earth, to spread death across the planet and to leave destruction in his wake. Jesus calls him a "murderer from the beginning" and "the father of lies". See John 8:44

Today's verse tells us about a battle going on. It's a war being fought between the forces of darkness and the forces of light. This war started in heaven (see Revelation 12:7-9) and the battle continues. It's the battle for our minds. It's the same battle that Jesus fought in the wilderness, when Satan came to tempt Him. He overcame the tempter by quoting from the Word of God, because He knew the scriptures and put his trust in His heavenly Father.

Jesus tells us the purpose of His mission to Earth: to bring life – He is the Lifegiver. In contrast to the thief who takes away, Jesus gives. In contrast to the killer, Jesus brings life. In contrast to the destroyer, Jesus builds up, He re-builds the broken.

The life Jesus brings is a quality of life – He calls this "abundant life" - life for all; not merely to exist, but to experience real living - new life in Christ!

How do I get this life? It's a gift. Jesus offers it to us - "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

"And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

May you be strengthened this day in your resolve to possess the abundant life Jesus gives.

What will you do with Jesus?

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Matthew 27:22

 

It was early on Friday morning, and Jesus stood before the judgment seat of Pilate, the Roman Governor. Pilate asked Him several questions, but Jesus remained silent.

Pilate had the opportunity to release Jesus then and there. He had even, that morning, received a message from his wife saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man.” She had dreamed, and in her dream been shown that Jesus was innocent.

Pilate was a fickle ruler – he was swayed by the people, and eventually he gave in to the mob and sent Jesus to His death.

We have just come through the Easter weekend. In my mind I contemplate that Friday morning long ago, when the Creator of the universe stood on trial before an earthly monarch.

The question comes to you and to me: “What then shall I do with Jesus?” Will we turn Him away? Or will we gladly invite Him into our lives each new day? – to lead and guide us on the journey.

 

“Once to every man and nation

Comes the moment to decide

In the strife of truth with falsehood

For the good or evil side.” (Anonymous)

Give thanks to God

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

It is a good thing for us to stop a while and count our blessings. When we do so, we notice how blessed we are, and this generates a natural response of thankfulness.

But we are not only thankful for material blessings – we are also thankful for God's saving grace, without which, we would be nothing.

Paul tells us, in verses 10 & 11 of today's chapter: "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God."

May you go forth into this day, thinking about today's verse, and with praise and thankfulness on your lips.

Trust in God with your entire heart

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5 & 6　

To trust in another is difficult for us humans. We tend to follow our own path. We feel secure with our own reasoning.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, advises us to trust in the LORD. The LORD, when written in the Bible in upper-case letters, is the self-Existent, Eternal God, Jehovah. He depends on no-one else; His creatures (that's us) depend on Him for every breath we take.

And so, in the light of who God is, Solomon's counsel in today's verse makes good sense.

But there's more: we are advised to trust in God with all our hearts. The heart is the seat of our emotions. The mind is the seat of our intellect and reasoning. Notice how the verse indicates to trust with both the heart and the mind: it goes on to say, "do not lean on your own understanding."

To acknowledge God is to admit that He is the Supreme Being in the Universe; it means to include Him in our plans; to give Him the leadership of our lives.

And when we acknowledge Him in all our ways - in one hundred percent of our activities - He becomes the Director of our paths. The director of a company is the top person, the operations leader.

Today, as you include God in all of your plans, take note of how He leads and blesses you on the road of life.

God is our Shelter and Strength

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." Psalm 46:1, 2.

When the troubles of life come upon us, and we need a place in which to take refuge, the Psalmist makes the positive statement that God is a safe place of shelter, and He is our strength.

In connection with the place of shelter, there are two identical refrains in the Psalm - verses 7 and 11: "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

The LORD of hosts is the Commander of the armies of heaven (see Joshua 5:14 & 2 Kings 6:17).

The God of Jacob is the One who appeared at the ladder in Jacob's dream (see Genesis 28:12-15) to give Jacob comfort and hope - the One who promises us victory, the One who changed Jacob's name from "deceiver" to "overcomer", after he had wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-30).

Because of the fact that God is very close to us (present) in times of trouble, and because He is our shelter and strength, we will not fear. Even if the unmovable things - the Earth - is removed; even if the mountains are carried into the middle of the sea (both of which are illustrations of large calamities that may come our way), the Psalmist gives us the assurance that we need not fear.

And so, you can confidently step into this new day, because "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

God is, and all is well.

God is there for us

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12

Our verse today comes at the end of a great victory for Israel over the Philistines. There was fear in the ranks of the Israelites (verse 7), when they heard that the armies of Philistia were gathered to attack them. They begged the prophet Samuel to continue asking God to save the nation from the hand of the Philistines, which he did while offering a lamb as a burnt offering to the LORD.

While he was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines advanced to start the battle, but then God moved in, in answer to the prophet's prayer. He "thundered a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day" (verse 10). The enemy became confused, and were overthrown by the army of Israel.

In the wake of the victory, Samuel set up a stone pillar, in remembrance of the help God had given them that day. This was a monument, no small stone. It was to remind them of God's deliverance then, and to let them know that He would be with them in the future. The word Ebenezer means "Stone of help".

Are you taking note of the times God has helped you in your emergencies? Remember, God will help you through each difficulty you face. No problem of yours is too big for Him to tackle, for He directs the affairs of the universe! Our help comes from the Lord.

War in Heaven

"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found in heaven for them any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:7-9

This was the first war in the Universe. The angels took sides - good versus evil. God tells us in the Scriptures of the origin of evil - see Isaiah 14:12-15 & Ezekiel 28:12-15. Pride entered the heart of Lucifer, the covering cherub, the one who stood closest to God. He was created perfect, but he began to covet the position that only God could have; he wanted to be like God. And so he spread his poison among the perfect angels of God, and eventually gained loyal angels to his side. And war broke out in heaven. We have reason to believe, from Revelation 12:4, that he drew with him a following of one third of the angels in heaven.

Michael, translated in the Hebrew, is "who is like God". There is only One who is like God, the Father. He is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Commander of the angels who remained loyal to God.

We are not told how the battle was fought, but the good news for us is that Satan did not prevail - he lost the battle - he was cast out of heaven. He lost his place there, and he has lost every battle in the fight between good and evil since.

Christ will be victorious in the final battle, also. I choose to march under His banner. How about you?

God supplies strength for the weary

"He gives power to the faint and to them that have no might He increases strength." Isaiah 40:29

Today's verse is part of the prophet's anthem of praise illustrating God's power and might, found in verses 25 through 31. Read it and discover how great our God is!

Have you ever felt like the task is greater than the strength available? Then today's verse is for you!

The words " the faint" in our verse refer to those who are fatigued or exhausted. It's the kind of exhaustion that comes from a wearisome fight. When the battle of life has been too much for you, and your strength is gone - when you feel like you can't carry on, take hold of the promise in today's verse and know that God gives power to those who sense their utter weakness.

Your strength will return as you look to Him to renew it. By the way, the word "increases" appears to indicate a gradual return of strength, building up reserves until the warrior is fully strengthened for battle. How awesome is that!

Christ suffered, so that we can be healed

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah foretells the suffering of Jesus, the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Again, as we see what Jesus did for us, to bring us forgiveness and peace, we get a glimpse of the golden thread of grace that runs through the entire Bible. Notice, four times in the verse, His interaction with us - 'He' and 'our/we'.

He was wounded because of our revolt.

He was crushed because of our wrong-doing.

He was punished so that we might have peace.

He was whipped so that we might be healed of sin.

The verse starts with the punishment Christ endured for our revolt and wrongdoing - then ends with His gifts to us of peace and healing. What grace! What love!

It's easy for us to casually read today's verse and miss the blood. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before He was killed, Christ wrestled with the prince of darkness and His sweat was like drops of blood, oozing out of His skin, and falling to the ground. The mob handled Him roughly; the soldiers struck Him, beat Him and whipped Him, opening wounds from which His blood flowed; the crown of thorns, thrust upon His head, caused more blood to flow. And finally, the nails in His hands and feet drained what little was left, as He hung on the cross.

But it's the blood that gives us life! The entire sanctuary service, given to the Israelites in the wilderness, pointed to Christ, the Lamb. (See Leviticus.) The slain sacrifice and sprinkled blood in that service was a symbol of the salvation that He offers, and pointed forward to Christ's death for us. What a fitting metaphor - "For the life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11 & Deuteronomy 12:23. "…and without shedding of blood there is no remission." Hebrews 9:22.

John the Revelator brings greetings from Jesus Christ - the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (Rev 1:5) This is heaven's forgiveness!

Today, as you think about Christ's agony and suffering, and the wonderful gift His spilled blood brings to us all, may you accept that gift and experience the peace and healing He gives.