Sunday, July 7 – Joshua 1

Jos 1:6  Be strong and of good courage… 8  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9  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."

The command to “be courageous” is given to Joshua 3 times by God in this chapter, and once by the people. So…how was Joshua going to be courageous? How am I going to be courageous? Today we start the second half of year one of a three-and-a-half year study of the Bible. Has reading God’s word each day helped me to meditate on it day and night? Am I growing in observing the law of God? Have I been encouraged by promises of God such as, “The Lord God is with you wherever you go”? Has the Lord blessed me with success in any of my endeavors?

Lord, for any sin I have avoided or obstacle I have overcome, for any success that You have blessed me with, for the very fact that You kept me alive to this day, for every blessing, all glory be to You! May I take courage to obey You even more!

July 8 – Joshua 2

Jos 2:11  And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

It’s hard to change your mind. Paganism, and the immorality that went with it, was all Rahab knew. But, unlike the rest of the inhabitants of Jericho, she had a good and honest heart that examined the evidence and concluded that the God of Israel was “God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” God, in His providence, tested her faith, and when her works proved that she had a living faith, He blessed her despite her sinful past, James 2:25. We too are a product of our culture – even our religious culture. Sometimes we have wrong thoughts and actions and don’t realize it.

Lord, I pray for all of us as we read Your word and grow in our knowledge of who You are and the way we should live. Help me to be like Rahab, a person who actually examines Your word with a heart that is willing to give up my cultural and even religious beliefs when I see evidence that I am on the wrong track. When you test my faith, may my works prove that I truly believe that You are the Lord of heaven and earth – and my life.

July 9 – Joshua 3

Jos 3:4  Yet there shall be a space between you and it [the Ark], about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."

When I read this, I thought, “Where is the cloud?” The last mention of the cloud is in Dt.31:15. It seems that God is no longer leading them by a cloud since they have arrived at the promised land. The crossing of the Jordan proves that His special presence is still with them, however. It abides with the Ark, and those who wish to be blessed by Him need to abide by the covenant which was put inside “the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God.” However, in looking up all Biblical references to “cloud,” the true answer to “Where is the cloud?” is given to us by Isaiah:

Isa 4:5  then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6  And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.

The cloud is now with us! Isaiah prophesies about a cloud that will cover “Mount Zion.” The Hebrew writer says that we who are of the church of the firstborn have come to spiritual Mount Zion, Heb.12:22-24; a place where we are blessed and protected by God when we hearken to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, Heb.12:25.

O Lord our God, our shade by day, a flaming protection by night, our shelter in the time of storm: may we bless Your name and keep Your covenant forever and ever.

July 10 – Joshua 4

Jos 4:14  On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Joshua had some pretty big shoes to fill! Getting the often rebellious nation of Israel to follow him, particularly in the daunting task of conquering people much stronger than they were, must have felt pretty overwhelming. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like that? So what did Joshua do? He simply did what was right in the sight of God and let God take care of the situation.

Dear Lord, so many times we fret over how others are going to respond to us in various situations. Let us remember that if we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand by always simply doing what is right in Your sight, You will exalt us in due time if we all our anxieties on You, knowing that You truly care for us. (1 Pet.5:6-7)

July 11 – Joshua 5

Jos 5:12  Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.

The providence of God is an amazing thing. The children of Israel arrived at the Jordan River at the exact time necessary for the Lord to demonstrate His power by working an amazing miracle. They arrived in the land of Canaan at the exact time they needed to harvest the produce of the land, (Josh.3:15). God providentially opened a way for them to work for their food before stopping the manna.

O Lord, Your love and care for Your creation is so evident and so wonderful! When I am anxious as to why You are not answering my prayers immediately or why You are allowing certain bad things to happen in my life, help me to remember Your amazing providence. When life is difficult, help me to remember the times that You carried me and to also be thankful when You provide a way for me to provide for myself.

July 12 – Joshua 6

Jos 6:17  And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction….18  But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19  But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."

The firstfruits and the firstborn – these always went to the Lord. It was an expression of trust that there would be more fruits, domesticated animals and children to follow. It is also a deterrent to greed and pride, an acknowledgment of the Source of all blessings. The same held true with the conquering of Canaan. The first of the booty was to go to the Lord. As I think about my resources, not just money, but time and energy and opportunities, do I consider God first and always give my best for Him in every situation?

Lord, You have given us so much, including our very lives, especially our spiritual lives! Help me to always give You the first and best of all that I am and have.

July 13 – Joshua 7

Jos 7:7  And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? …

Jos 7:10  The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11  Israel has sinned…

Note how the two questions each begin! Joshua was not thinking logically at all. Major premise: God will “cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face,” (Dt.28:7), unless “you do not obey the voice of the Lord,” (Dt.28:15). Minor premise: God did not cause the enemies to be defeated. Logical conclusion? The first three words of verse 11! So often when we face difficulties, we, like Joshua, allow our emotions to override our reason. Fortunately, God’s words to Joshua caused him and the people to stop wallowing in emotions, take care of the problem and, as we see in the next chapter, go back and face the enemy again, putting their trust in the Lord. Think for a moment how hard it must have been for them to put their lives in danger again when they were so terribly defeated the first time! We similarly at times are tempted to allow our emotions to deceive us into thinking that it is “too hard” for us (or our loved ones) to follow a specific command of God.

O God of righteousness, the words of this chapter have struck into my heart afresh, reminding me how devastatingly my sin can affect others. In times of weakness, when my emotions are telling me that what You ask of me is too difficult, help me to use the power of Your word to motivate me to do what is right and be a blessing, not a curse, to others.

July 14 – Joshua 8

Jos 8:35  There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.

Sometimes we women feel that we don’t need to know the word of God as much as men do. After all, we won’t ever be called on to preach. And I may not think that I will ever teach a ladies’ Bible class. This verse specifically tells us that God wants everyone to hear the word of God. And, if we go back to Deuteronomy 27 where the original command was issued, not only did everyone hear the word of God, but they were expected to respond to the curses pronounced on disobedience by saying, “Amen.” In other words, “I agree. If I do this thing, it is right for God to curse me.” On the day of judgment, we will each be judged individually – we will not be excused because we followed our husbands, fathers, preachers or elders into error. Men and women of each generation face new challenges to their faith, challenges which demand careful study and correct application of God’s word – and each generation needs fathers and mothers who train their children how to do this.

All-wise Father in heaven, today I give You special thanks for everyone who is making a sincere effort to get to know and understand Your word. Bless us, dear Lord, that we will gain the ability to handle rightly Your word of truth, stand firmly in it, and grow in our ability to use it in a way that it powerfully encourages others to also do what is right.

July 15 – Joshua 9

Jos 9:14  Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.

Joshua, by means of the High Priest, had access to the Urim and Thummin to guide the people in matters of national importance, Numbers 27:21. (See Bible Reading for Exodus 28.) We do not have such a means of asking and receiving direct answers from heaven for any decision we make, but we do have prayer, the complete word of God and the providence of God. Sometimes we might pray for wisdom, but use our own wisdom to make decisions instead of humbly searching the word of God and basing our decisions on what God has revealed. Then when things seem to “work out,” we feel falsely confident that we are doing what is right. I once knew a woman who pursued a career which meant she would have to study in another city, not seeing her husband for weeks at a time. They prayed and she applied. Because she was accepted, they thought God was blessing her endeavor, even though they were violating 1 Cor.7:5. Both ended up committing adultery. If I make sure that I abide in the doctrine of Christ and pray to the Lord, I can be confident that He will hear me and provide what I need if it is His will that I pursue that endeavor. “The Lord is near to all wo call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of those who fear Him.” Ps.145:18-19. Yes, God will fulfil my desire -- if I abide in truth and my desire is to do whatever pleases Him.

     Dear Lord, as I begin this day – a day that You have made, I know that I will need to make many decisions. I pray that I will be honest in putting my own desires aside to seek Your word and abide in Your will.

July 16 – Joshua 10

Jos 10:14  There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

Supposedly, according to scientists, if the earth stopped spinning, the atmosphere would keep going – at 1100 mph, generating a 1100 mph wind that would sweep everything off the earth’s crust and sweep sea water right over the land. And of course, just as it takes a bit of force to stop a light-weight spinning top, an unbelievable amount of force would be needed to get the earth to stop. None of this was a problem for God – or, for all we know, He chose some other way to perform this truly amazing miracle. Joshua, and the soldiers of Israel “ascended” from Gilgal, (which is 3,300 feet lower than Gibeon), and “marched all night, (a distance of 20 miles). Then, for another 24+ hours they pursued the enemy from Gibeon to Beth-Horon, to Azekah to Makkedah – at least 45 miles. To get a good picture of this in your mind, see https://bibleatlas.org/full/beth-horon.htm. Truly they were willing to exert themselves to their utmost, and God was willing to help them.

     Lord, You have promised us a way of escape from every temptation, You have promised to be with us always as we make disciples of all nations. Help us to be willing to exert ourselves beyond our comfort zone, indeed, be willing to spend and be spent in service to You and for the sake of the souls of others. [2 Cor.12:15]

July 17 – Joshua 11

Jos 11:12  So all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.

This was a very difficult chapter for me to take in. I cannot imagine what a nightmarish task it must have been to utterly destroy so many people, especially children, city after city, thousands upon thousands, month after month. To Joshua and the Israelites, these people were strangers, enemies, someone who might destroy them. But to God they were His children, objects of His love, precious souls that He surely grieved over. And so it will be on Judgment Day. As much as God loves everyone and grieves the loss of any soul, His righteousness will determine that the destiny of some will be eternal destruction.

     O God of mercy, You have told us that You are not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Truly we live in a sinful world, but help us to be Your instruments to seek those who have good hearts, tell them of Your love and righteousness, and show them the plan of salvation You have mercifully given to us in Your word.

July 18 – Joshua 12

According to Joshua 14:10, the conquering of the 33 kings listed in this chapter lasted 7 years, beginning with the conquering of the land east of the Jordan in the 38th year of the wilderness wandering (before Moses died in the 40th year), and ending in the 45th year. It was not an immediate conquering of the entire land because, according to Dt.7:22 & Ex.23:29, that would throw the human/animal ecosystem off-balance. It was however, enough war experience to teach the Israelites the discipline, skill and trust in God necessary to finish conquering the Canaanites. In other words, they were trained by God, Moses and Joshua how to successfully overcome their enemies. This reminds me of the time in parenting known as the teen years. Parents have approximately 5-7 years from the time their children are able to reason logically (around age 12) until they leave home. This is the time parents have to train them how to carry on the good fight of faith on their own. This training cannot consist simply of hearing instructions about how to fight for a few hours each week. It needs day-in, day-out wrestling with how God’s divine instructions apply to their daily battles, and discipline to go out and fight so that they gain the necessary skills to do this on their own.

     Today Father, we pray especially for our teens and their parents. Help them to realize that this is a special time in their lives, a time of being equipped with skills that we all need to keep on fighting our spiritual enemies – be those enemies in the world or in our own hearts. 

July 19 – Joshua 13

Jos 13:1  Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.

Jos 13:6  all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as the Brook Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians—them I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you.

Joshua’s age was one problem facing the Israelites. There was also “very much land!” It was time to divide and conquer. When one generation fights the good fight, many souls are brought to the Lord. Congregations grow. People are converted further and further from the meeting place. It is time to “divide and conquer.” But what if the members of the old and new congregations do not keep that same evangelistic spirit? What if they do, but as they grow old, like Joshua, their children do not? Or their grandchildren?

     Dear Lord, we come before you today, acknowledging that Satan rules in the hearts of people we come into contact with each day, but also acknowledging that by Your power, he can be defeated. Be with each of us as we fight within to defeat our fear and pessimism and self-interest, and be with us “without” as we speak to those in bondage to Satan about how wonderful You are. Open doors for us to reach out to those who are seeking Your truth. Give the increase, O Lord, we pray, to the seeds that we plant.

July 20 – Joshua 14

Jos 14:12  Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said."

When do I get to retire? For Caleb, it was only when his God-given task was complete. Hebron was his “rest.” Even if all I am able to do in this life is pray, 1 Tim.5:5, this is a God-given task of great importance. It is only when I enter my heavenly rest that I can stop working for the Lord. There were three giants who lived in Hebron (Joshua 15:14), and Caleb had to manage this conquest on his own, probably asking the help of his fellow tribesmen. This was possibly the most difficult task of his career – but also his crowning achievement.

     O Lord, our very present Help, I pray that, as we grow older, our fires of fervor to work for you will not dim, but burn ever brighter until the day You call us to enter our rest. In the meantime, please bless us with health and strength to work for You.

July 21 – Joshua 15

Jos 15:16  And Caleb said, "He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife."

How will my children/grandchildren choose a mate? In those days, parents chose their children’s mates. In these days, parents need to teach their children how to choose their mates. What qualities did Caleb think were important? In order for a man to conquer a city, he had to be the type of man other men trusted with their very lives, and most importantly, a man who himself trusted in God … obviously a man who was bearing the fruit of the Spirit as in Gal.5:22-23. Caleb gave this man a test. Those thinking of marriage also need to give their possible future mate a test – a time of observing how he or she reacts under the pressures of spiritual warfare. Caleb chose wisely. Othniel was able to withstand the general apostasy of the rest of the country and become the first judge of Israel.

     Today, please pray specifically for all the young people you know who will soon be choosing a mate. Pray that they will choose according to God’s standards, not men’s.

July 22 – Joshua 16

Jos 16:10  And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

Deu 7:2  and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.

Deu 7:12  "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. 13  And He will love you and bless you and multiply you…

Why didn’t the Ephraimites drive out all the Canaanites? Perhaps since Gezer was on the fringe of their territory, they didn’t think it was that important. Perhaps they weren’t motivated because they were not going to dwell in it themselves; it was for the Levites, Josh.21:21. Perhaps they thought that the Gezerites would be more valuable as forced laborers, than dead. And surely it was a difficult and unpleasant task – so much nicer to just enjoy the land they had already fought for. Whatever the human reasoning of the Ephraimites, it was a spiritually deadly choice. They lost the mercy and blessing of the Lord.

     Today, I want to encourage each of us to search our hearts to see which thing the Lord asks of me that I am finding reasons not to do – and repent! Lord, we are nothing without Your mercy and blessing. Help us to realize that Your commandments, no matter how unnecessary or difficult they may seem to us, are for our good always.

July 23 – Joshua 17

Jos 17:16  But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron….”

Isn’t it amazing how we can always find something to complain about? Ephraim and Manasseh received a particularly choice, fertile lot in the land; yet were not satisfied. What was the path to contentment which Joshua gave them? Work hard; clear the forests. Trust in God; He will help you conquer those with iron chariots.

     O bountiful God, please help each of us to work hard to improve our own character so that, instead of complaining, we work at making our homes better places to live and our jobs better places to work. Today we want to give you thanks for the “lot” you have blessed us with, and ask Your help to cut down the forests that prevent us from clearly seeing the good in others and in our situation. Help us stop making excuses for failing to do what you want us to do and make the effort to overcome the “iron chariots” that we face, trusting that You know what is best for us and will help us.

July 24 – Joshua 18

Jos 18:1  Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.

The Bible is silent as to why Shiloh (peace, rest) was chosen as the place for the Ark to “rest,” except we know that it must have been by God’s command, Dt.12.11. The actual site where the tabernacle is thought to have stood, near the top of a mountain in Ephraim, is presently being excavated. See a picture here: http://www.bible.ca/archeology/panorama-israel-archeology-shiloh-tabernacle-of-moses-1394-1088bc.jpg. What an honor for this tribe to have – surely part of the greatness that was prophesied by Jacob in Gen.48:19. However, Ephraim did not seem to fully appreciate this honor. They “provoked Him to anger with their high places…so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh … Moreover, He rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, Mt Zion which He loved…” –Ps. 78:58-60, 67-78.

     Father, I am so awed by the honor that I have had to hear the true gospel and become Your child. Of all the millions on the earth, why am I one of the few that is so blessed? Lord, I am so grateful for this honor and I pray that I will walk before You in a worthy manner.

July 25 – Joshua 19

Jos 19:1  The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

As Jacob prophesied in Genesis 49, Simeon’s tribe was to be “scattered” in Israel because of his treachery with regard to the Dinah incident (Gen.34). From Simeon’s initial population of 59,300 men of war at the beginning of the wilderness wandering, (Num.1:23), they have now shrunk considerably to a mere 22,200, (Num.26:14). And so they are given no territory of their own, only cities within the large territory given to Judah. Most of these cities were in the Negev, a semi-arid part of the country.

     Loving Father, we live in a time when most families are “scattered,” at least in a physical sense, and family values are hard for us to maintain in the spiritual aridness of the world that we live in. We thank You, Lord, for Your beautiful promise in Mk.10:30 that you will provide a spiritual family that can supply day-to-day practical support for those who are scattered from loved ones or for those whose families do not share their love for You, and I personally thank You for so many who have been that “family” for us and our children! Today we pray especially for all those who are part of scattered families. May we reach out to each other in mutual support, encouraging one another as sisters and mothers, and extending encouragement to our spiritual children.

July 26 – Joshua 20

Jos 20:4  And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

As we see in chapter 21, all of the cities of refuge belonged to the Levites – so the elders of this city should be know-ledgeable in the word of God, full of wisdom and able to judge righteously. Because they live by the grace of God, (the tithes and offerings of the nation), they should also be gracious and open-hearted to treat strangers “as one of them” and give them “a place…among them.” Imagine if you accidently killed someone and had to flee for your life. Wouldn’t it be a comfort to know that there was somewhere to turn in your desperation? As long as the high priest lived, you were never able to return to your home. Wouldn’t it be a comfort to know that someone would help you get a fresh start?

     O merciful God, I have done so many wrong things for which I deserved spiritual death, but I have run to You for refuge and you have taken me in and given me a place in Your house. May I in turn be full of compassion towards those who are seeking refuge from the wrong choices they have made in their lives, love them as “one of us,” and extend wise help to them in the ways that they need, especially spiritually.

July 27 – Joshua 21

Levi is another tribe who was “scattered” in Israel due to Levi’s part in the Dinah incident, Gen.34, 49:5-7. However, because of Levi’s descendants’ stand for the Lord, (see Daily Bible Reading for Exodus 32), their punishment was turned in to a potential blessing for both them and the nation. The Levites were to scattered like leaven, permeating the towns surrounding them with the teaching of God’s law so that the nations around them would say, “Surely this nation is a wise and understanding people.” And the Israelites themselves would say, “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgements?” (Dt.4:6-8)

    We bring You our hearts, Lord, each day as we study a chapter of Your word. Help us to be molded by what we read so that we can be to others around us what You designed the Levites to be: skilled in Your law, wise in its application, and an influence for good among Your people and those who do not yet know You. Help us to find comfort in the example of the Levites as we see that, even if the actions of our ancestors were ungodly, or even our own past actions, our actions today can change the course of the future for us and our children. May we be motivated and empowered by Your grace.

July 28 – Joshua 22

Jos 22:19  Nevertheless, if the land of your possession is unclean, then cross over to the land of the possession of the LORD, where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and take possession among us; but do not rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God.

This chapter is an amazing example of conflict resolution:   1. Recognize that a violation of God’s law on the part of one person in the congregation/family is going to affect everyone. (v.18)   2. Don’t take rash action immediately, (v.12), but first go to those you believe have violated God’s law in order to get the facts, (v.13-14).   3. Use the power and authority of God to make your case, (v.17,20).  4. Prove your love for the Lord and for them, and your earnest desire for their spiritual good, by offering to make personal sacrifices on their behalf, (v.19). That last step is HUGE!

     O Lord of love and truth, there are so many of Your children who are struggling with their faith. Help us, and the congregations where we are, to be united in our desire to do what is right. Help me to seriously think of the personal sacrifices I could make and need to make in order to show each of these people that I truly care for them.

July 29 – Joshua 23

Jos 23:11  Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.

By this time the land had been mostly conquered, but there were pockets of enemies that still needed to be driven out. Just so has Christ conquered Satan, but there are pockets of sin that we still need to drive out of our hearts. In order for them, and us, to drive out the enemies that plague us, we have to first fix our hearts. Here are some observations from a sermon I once heard on this chapter: things that will enable me to fix my heart problems.   1) Look back, v.3. Remember what the Lord has done for me! This motivates me to love Him, v.11.  2) Look ahead, v.5. God has promised that there is no temptation for which He will not provide a way of escape, 1 Cor.10:13. I can be victorious over sin!  3) Look within, v.6. Look within God’s word and within my heart; and, when my heart selfishly rebels against the word of God, “take courage” to do what is written. When outside influences, v.7,12, want to pull me in a different direction, “hold fast to the Lord,” v.8. “Take careful heed” to love the Lord most of all, v.11.

     Lord, please be with us today as we take careful heed to examine our hearts to see if we truly love You, for it is so easy for us to justify ourselves, to deceive ourselves so as to think we are OK when we are not. Help us to be honest and sincere so we can see our sinful motives and actions as they truly are.

July 30 – Joshua 24

Jos 24:15  … choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

I remember when TV first came to South Africa in 1975: there was just one channel! Now we live in a time when we are bombarded by media choices as well as career choices, food choices, & philosophy-of-life choices. Choosing God and His way is just one of the multitude of options out there! If we don’t consciously choose and fully commit to our choice, we have no way to withstand the bombardment of the world’s choices. Every day, people around us, including the people behind the websites we visit, try to get us to compromise our beliefs in small little ways. Remember, “He is a holy God. He is a jealous God,” v.19.                      O holy God, help us all to choose wisely, even in “small” things!