Joshua 3

and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),  that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, andwere cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. vv.15-16

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Did you realize there are two times God parts the waters for Israel to cross?  The first time, and most well known occurrence, is with Moses in the Exodus crossing the Red Sea (Ex. 14).  Yet here we see the second occurrence with Joshua leading the Israelites across the Jordan river.  Now we have the note here that it was during the harvest season, which meant that the Jordan River was overflowing, the strongest time the river was during the year, so this was no wading across an easy shallow river.  There was no way they could have crossed the Jordan as speedily and safely as they did without the miracle of parting the waters.  I mean the whole nation of Israel crossed the Jordan to enter the land of Canaan, that was probably a million or two men, women and children plus all their possessions to carry.  As when Moses raised his staff over the Red Sea to part the waters, here the moment the priest stepped into the Jordan water’s edge the river split.  Now it must have been a pretty wide path for them to cross the river as scripture notes that the waters coming from upstream piled up a great distance away.  God can and does do similar miracles similar to Jesus feeding the thousands a couple times and healing multiple blind people.  Did you know of these two miracles of the parting of the waters?  What are other miracles you’ve seen multiple times in scripture or in life today?

Joshua 2

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. v.1

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Rehab.  An amazing well known woman of the Bible.  Unfortunately she has a title attached to her name like John the Baptist, but her title isn't one I don't think most people would like: Rehab the Prostitute.  Yes she was a prostitute but that’s not the end of her story.  Rehab is not an Israelite, she and the whole nation of Jericho are afraid of the Lord God at this point in history knowing all that the God of Israel had been doing for them and were afraid to be next to be taken out by God.  Yet Rehab is to be the only one that has faith in God as we read in the famous hall of fame chapter in Hebrews 11:31.  She must have had a word from God ("So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17) to let these spies in as well as the two spies knowing out of all the homes to go to, to go to hers to hide.  This act of faith leads her in to an amazing blessing, not only saving her and her family from destruction but Rehab marries an Israelite named Salmon who becomes a great great grandma to king David and ultimate a part of the genealogy to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5)!  She may have the title of a prostitue but that didn't stop her from faith in God and turning her whole life around to become a worshiper of Him with blessing upon blessing.

Dont let a past sin or title hold you to what potential you can still have for faith in Christ.  What might that sin or title be (that someone or you give yourself) that you need to look past and show faith God is calling you to?

Joshua 1

Be strong and of good courage... Only be strong and very courageous...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage...Only be strong and of good courage. vv.6,7,9,18

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The baton has been passed from Moses to Joshua.  Moses is not dead and Joshua is to lead the Israelites into the promised land.  Did you notice the words “Be strong and courageous” appeared four times in this one chapter?  The Lord said it directly to Joshua three times and then the people of Israel said it as well to Joshua.  The Lord is speaking directly to Joshua and encourages him in leading the people which is no easy task and God knows it or else He wouldn’t have said be strong and courageous three times.  We will see as we explore the book of Joshua what all he would face and need this boldness, but just as Joshua didn't know what  all was to come, neither do we know what’s all to come in our life.  Yet the Lord tells us to be strong and courageous as well as in 2 Timothy 1:7, “The Lord did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.”  I like how the people also encouraged their new leader with the same words as God used, that must have really made it hit home for Joshua.  What do you feel the Lord is telling you to be strong and courageous in your life right now?  How can you encourage any leader in your life with these same words?

3 John

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. v.4

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Now we have a letter from John to his friend Gaius.  It’s a letter of encouragement to his friend.  How sweet and good it is to give encouragement to friends as well as receive it too.  I know I love it and am fully of joy when I get random snail mail or messages from friends when I’m least expecting it but most need it.  Well one of my favorite verses in all of scripture comes from this short letter and that is verse four.  John is saying what brings him the most joy more than anything else in the world is to hear that his children are walking in truth.  His most joy isn't at a party with friends and family or isn't when he’s fishing down by the river, but when others are living for Christ who is truth.  We can be sure God our Father is in agreement with this as he inspired John in this letter, that God has no greater joy than to hear that we are walking in truth.

So one, send a friend a random letter or message of encouragement today.  Secondly, which truths are you going to choose to walk in today to bring your Father joy?

2 John

The Elder,

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth v.1

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Know who John’s writing to?  His wife!  Yes John the disciple whom Jesus loved, who penned the gospel of John and 1st, 2nd and 3rd John was married.  2nd John is a letter to his wife.  So why is it in the Bible?  Well for one there is still great teaching in this short thirteen verse letter that was for that time period of the Acts when this was written.  Most the teaching is continually about the importance of love as we saw in 1st John as well as being aware of other teachings.  I’m sure the husband and father of the household wanted to make sure his family wasn’t being deceived and continuing in the faith while he was away on missionary journeys.  This may not be some lovey-dovey letter between a husband and a wife but it does show the depth of their relationship.  John is conversing about truth with his wife, maintaining in contact while he’s away, encouraging her while she raises their children, and his desire to see her face to face and tell her every detail.  Today there isn't as much letter writing between husband and wife, but communication has increased exponentially since the time of John and his wife, yet communication between spouses, or any other relationships, seems to be harder and harder.  Why is that?  If you’re married or in a relationship, how can you make your communications be Christ-centered no matter what the discussion is about?

1 John 5

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. vv.3-4

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We have read how to love others and of God’s love, and now we read of how to love God.  It says flat out right here: obey His commands.  Now if one just read that I would imagine someone getting all upset thinking it’s meaning this crazy cruel submission with a whip is how God commands people.  This is not it at all.  The following sentence for starters says His commands are not burdensome.  Like a child wanting to please their parents he or she does what they ask him or her.  Yes this pleases the parents and it pleases God when his children desire to please Him, but one thing my roommates parents said to me one day is that Courtney (my roommate) couldn't do anything more to make them proud of her and love her more for how much they already love her.  It’s the same with God.  There’s no work we can do to earn more of God’s love, so it’s not about works to make Him love us.  Obeying His commands ought to be our delight to show how much we love him, but knowing that it doesn’t make him love us any more or less.  I like that this verse even flips the thinking around in that it starts with how we love God and goes on how much more He loves us.  He loves us so much that He overcame the world and allows us to overcome the world with Him if we are generated of Him.  That seems to be man’s all in this world- how to overcome it.  Praise the Lord we don't have try and fail to do it because He already did and He’s our only way to overcome it as well.

Do you try to earn God’s love?  How can you change works for love to a desire to please Him?  What ways do you or others try to overcome the world apart from God and how have you seen this play out?

1 John 4

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. v.18

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Live loved.  It’s a phrase I read in a book recently saying live as you’re fully loved.  Lived as you are fully loved by God.  Many don't live or believe this.  And if one doesnt believe they are loved by God fear sets in.  Fear of abandonment, fear of being forgotten, fear of death, and so on.  Yet perfect love cast out fear.  God is love and accepting and believing God’s love for you will cast out any fear.  Can you grasp Christ’s love for you?  The sum of the cross in that He died for YOU.  Do you know anyone that would die for you?  That’s pretty strong love.  Yes there may be a parent, spouse, friend that would die for you but no one would just die for someone they didn't think was worthy.  Yet Christ died for you because He does think you are worthy of dying for even if you don’t, even because you (and everyone) are a sinner.  If someone died for you you would probably spend the rest of your life trying to make it up to that person being beyond grateful.  Well there’s nothing we can do to make it up to the Lord for dying for us other than wholly accepting His gift of everlasting life with Him.  The future may be unknown but with Christ’s love for us we ought to face the future confidently and not in fear.  What fear needs to be cast out in your life to live fully loved?