Joshua 1:6-9 - Strength and Courage

Joshua 1:6-9

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Message: Strength and Courage

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: After the death of Moses, God calls his assistant, Joshua to lead the nation of Israel to Canaan. In verse 2 the Lord calls Joshua to cross the Jordan, ultimately defeating and driving out the people of Canaan from their land. No small task. Israel was outnumbered. Previously, the people had question of this occurring. They lacked faith, seeing the obstacles before them. In the previous lesson he receives the promise that God will be with him. This should be all the comfort that one needs. But alas we also need encouraging words and reminders that God will be with us through thick and thin. 

After hearing that God would be with him, we get the words from the Lord to Joshua 'be strong and courageous.' Simple words but meaningful words that bring encouragement to many today, even me. I think of the large tasks before me often. My work and its long list of things to do simply continues to grow and grow. Even my personal time has books I'd like to read through and I seem to add more books to read so easily. And yet struggle to get through them, but enjoy it when I do. Of late, my stomach has been a problem as I have not been very regular in the bathroom. It feels like all of life, from sun up to sun down has burdens, obstacles, things I need to do and get through or would like to do. Maybe that is good and normal. Maybe it is what I have laid out before me and like, to always be achieving something. Michael W. Smith penned a song from his first release of this same title, 'So be Strong and Courageous.' I often think of it when I hear this admonition and sing it to myself. Good words to hear and be reminded of in life. 

And yet this isn't simply a 'believe in yourself' sort of creed, but it is words God gives following Him saying He will be with Joshua. Then following it are other words that go alongside the idea of being strong and courageous. Joshua is to remember the words of Moses that were commanded, more specifically 'the law.' 

"....be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you."

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth."

"you shall meditate on it day and night."

"...be careful to do according to all that is written in it..."

"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Simple reminders here continue. Meditate on God's law. Be careful to do it. There is no reason to fear for the Lord God is with you wherever you go. 

Summary: The Lord encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous as he goes across the Jordan toward Canaan, remembering God's law, and being careful to follow it. 

Promise: Being obedience to God's word does not guarantee nothing bad will happen to a person, but those who obey God's word will finally win and we are to live lives in faithful obedience to God. 

Prayer: Thank you God for your words of encouragement you offer to Joshua and I believe you offer to me as well. I need to stay close to your words God always trusting in the Law of God which you have given me follow and obey. Keep me meditating on it and living by it. It is always relevant to my life, but no matter what I need to uphold it and so teach me to be guided by it always and help me to encourage this in others as well. I pray my family would be guided by it and trust in it always. Let it move in people's lives and change them. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 1:1-5 - Joshua Commissioned to Lead Israel

Joshua 1:1-5

1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

Message: Joshua Commissioned to Lead Israel

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Moses dies and the Lord now speaks to Joshua to cross the Jordan, himself and all the sons of Israel to the land God is providing them. God will be with them and will not fail or forsake them. 

God promised Abraham many descendants (Genesis 12:1-3) and the nation of Israel began or took root following God rescuing the children of Israel from slavery. This occurred about 1447 BC. God did promise the people the land of Canaan, but the people had to follow through on that promise and walk forth, going to the land. Unfortunately, they lacked faith that God would overpower the Canaanite forces. Only Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun believed. 

Moses was halted from entering the promised land because of his sin. This is chronicled in Numbers 20:1-13. At this time, the people were camped in Kadesh, the wilderness of Zin and there at the camp they lacked water, thus unable to produce fruit or grain. Moses and Aaron go to the tabernacle and speak to God about this and God tells them to speak to a rock to produce water. Moses responds by using his staff to hit a rock. Water gushes out. But the Lord states he is displeased with Moses and prevents Moses from going any further. It is not clear here what displeased the Lord, but His words are clear that Moses will not go further. 

In Numbers 27 verse 14 the Lord recalls this event in Numbers 20. And after Moses requests God to appoint a man to lead this group, the Lord appoints Joshua, with Moses commissioning him by laying his hands on him. 

Now it is Joshua and the commission or call from God to lead Israel to Canaan has been reinstated. He and the people are camped in the plains of Moab, just northeast of the Dead Sea and east of the city of Jericho on the other side of the Jordan River. 

God gives a gift of land to Canaan. They don't do anything to earn it, but they simply must walk into it and not be afraid, trusting God. In accomplishing the land, they must believe that God will provide it, in his way. 

In looking at this text there is striking language of God's promises. He says, "the land which I am giving to them" so it is clearly a gift. And then he also says that every step we take is a gift from him, "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you." That is great language and a great promise. Every step we take is a gift from God, granted by God. He gives us a promise, but also establishes our steps to that promise. All we must do is walk in them. And in verse 4 he pinpoints or spells out in even more detail all the places where he will walk with them. God will be with them. He will be their guide. "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life." God is with us. And his promise to be with us remains. As recorded in Matthew 28:20, "lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” And here in verse 5 the Lord says, "I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." These are indeed exciting truths. God is with us. He was with Israel and He continues to be with us - from dispensation to dispensation or time period to time period, he remains the same. 

Summary: After Moses' death, the Lord calls Joshua to lead Israel to the land of Canaan, promising to be with them every step of the way. 

Promise: God is with us, every step of the way; always. 

Prayer: O thank you God for your words of comfort, spoken to Joshua over 3,400 years ago and to Matthew 2,000 years ago and because of that I can know the promise that You will be with me as well, every step of my life, guiding me, directing me, taking me to a future glory, resurrected with You in paradise. You are near, always near to me. You are present, always present. Thank you for these stories that are real and continue to speak to people like me. You are the great one. You hold me near. You are the God of all and God of glory and I worship you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Deuteronomy 4:31 - The History of Israel

Deuteronomy 4:31

For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

Message: The History of Israel

Time: Deuteronomy was written around 1406 BC, at the end of the forty years of wandering endured by the nation of Israel. Deuteronomy restates God’s commands originally given to the Israelites some forty years earlier in Exodus and Leviticus. Deuteronomy asserts Moses as author (1:1; 4:44; 29:1). 

What the Lord is Saying: Christianity needs its history. Its history defines its present. Tabletalk referred me to I Corinthians 10:11 -- Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come -- and I also saw the words of Matthew Henry (1662-1714) that he wrote about the first 14 verses. 

I Corinthians 10:1-14 

(Paul says:) Let me show you the harm of being in communion with idolaters. Think of the Jewish nation. Through a miracle they were led through the Red Sea, where the pursuing Egyptians were drowned. It was to them a typical baptism (burying the old life or bad ways of the Egyptians and birthing new life or freedom coming through the red sea). And then provided manna, a type of Christ, to be fed on, living forever from bread of heaven. Christ is our rock - in which we drink the water from the stream provided, we are refreshed. Yet they got caught up in simply sitting on their privilege or even their profession of truth. This is an example for you and I, don't crave what they craved. Remember their sins as an example of what not to do. God gives us the command and we are to follow it. Some were destroyed by the serpent for not fearing God. Nothing in this Scripture has been written in vain. We are to be wise in it and learn from it. Others have fallen and so may we. Our security against sin is to not trust ourselves. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have like burdens, and like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.

What a great reminder this is of the words of Scripture and how they have been written over and over to teach us, to provide us examples, to remind us of the importance of following and trusting God. That Israel and how they lived can impact us today. That God is faithful and cleaving and clinging to him is what matters most. We are not to rest is our own accomplishment but instead rest in the Lord. 

Today's passage, Deuteronomy 4:31, I notice is translated "the Lord your God is a compassionate God" or "The Lord your God is a merciful God." Compassionate or merciful. Both ideas are focused on God toward others - one expressing concern and the other relief. God remembers His people - all of them, whether Jew or Greek. And throughout history we can see and watch His dealings with His people and learn from those interactions. He makes promises to His people. They are obedient but also not. He disciplines them for their sin, punishes them. Like them, we are His people of faith and so we can learn from their interactions and hopefully learn how to live in a more honoring way towards God. 

And in this verse today is the reminder that God is with us: the promise that (1) he will not fail me; (2) he will not destroy me; (3) he will not forget me. God made a covenant, a promise and He will not forget. 

As I learn from these stories and situations how to better live, I can always know that God will be with me and will not forget me. 

Summary: God is with us and will always be with us and I/we can learn from all of the interactions He has with His people throughout time. 

Promise: The Lord has promised always to be with His people. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for history and the reminder today that You created it all and throughout history you have been with your people, keeping them close to You and through all of those interactions, good and bad, today, now, I can learn from them still and can learn how I am to live and bear fruit in this world. You are sovereign over all. You are working. Keep me focused on You, not ever sitting on what You have provided, but being active, no matter my situation. You are in me. You are with me. And you are always capable of carrying me through all of life's situations. Thank you God. Thank you Lord. Thank you Savior. Don't let me forget. I need to remember and remember that all that I do is by your strength. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

TABLETALK - December 2018

I continue in my daily studies to be guided by Tabletalk magazine. 2018 was a study on the Gospel of John and its straightforward presentation of the person and work of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and other doctrines. 

• January 2018 (July 4, 2023 - July 23, 2023) John 1:1-2:22 - The preexistence of Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist and the person of Christ. 
• February 2018 (July 24, 2023 - August 10, 2023) John 2:23 - 3:36 - Regeneration and our need to believe in Christ for Salvation
• March 2018 (August 13, 2023 - September 30, 2023) John 4:1 - 5:29 - Christ is the incarnate Son of God
• April 2018 (October 1, 2023 - November 6, 2023) John 5:30 - John 7:36 - Jesus is as necessary to our souls as food is to our body; Jesus teaches in the temple during the Feast of Booths
• May 2018 (November 7, 2023 - December 22, 2023) John 7:37 - John 9:41 - Jesus experiences opposition and there is a sin-motivated resistance people have toward being enslaved to sin.
• June 2018 (December 23, 2023 - January 21, 2024) John 10:1 - 11:57 - Jesus as our shepherd will lay down His life for His sheep, but some won't hear Him. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in order to impact the faith of the disciples. 
• July 2018 (January 22, 2024 - March 14, 2024) John 12:1 - 13:20 - Jesus as Savior and Judge; salvation comes to Jesus' disciples and the judgment comes to all who reject Him. 
• August 2018 (March 15, 2024 - April 12, 2024) John 13:21 - John 14:31 - Warnings Jesus gave on the night of the Last Supper and the blessed promise of the Holy Spirit. 
• September 2018 (April 13, 2024 - May 9, 2024) John 15:1 - John 16:24 - Continuing Christ's Farewell Discourse and the meaning of abiding in Christ, the analogy of the vine and conviction/guidance of the Holy Spirit
• October 2018 (May 10, 2024 - July 19, 2024) John 16:25 - John 17:26 - Seeing Christ as our Intercessor, even on the night He was betrayed, Jesus will pray for His disciple; High Priestly Prayer
• November 2018 (July 20, 2024 - September 10, 2024) John 18:1 - John 19:37 - Consider Jesus' trial before Pilate and Jewish authorities and His crucifixion. 
• December 2018 (September 11, 2024 - October 24, 2024) John 19:38 - John 21:25 - The resurrection of Jesus and His encounters with the disciples afterward.

John 19

Joseph and Nicodemus (John 19:38-42) - Jesus has passed away; Joseph and Nicodemus come forward now to bury Jesus. Once ashamed and hiding from his arrest, now they take his burial serious and with honor. 

John 20

Mary Magdalene Finds the Empty Tomb (John 20:1-2) - Mary goes to the tomb (with others) and does not find Jesus there and concludes more than one person has taken him. 

Peter and John at the Tomb of Jesus (John 20:3-10) - Peter and John run to the tomb to see what Mary had stated -- that Jesus was in fact not present, the linens there though. 

Mary Sees Jesus and the Angels (John 20:11-15) - Mary goes to the tomb and 2 angels are there to comfort her but she does not recognize this or Jesus who asks her a question about her sadness. 

Mary Recognizes the Lord (John 20:16-18) - Mary now sees that Jesus is here, but Jesus makes it clear, He is ascending to the Father and Mary needs to tell others this is happening and the time is now. 

Jesus Appears to His Disciples (John 20:19-22) - Jesus comes to the disciples to bring them peace and sends them forth with the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Giving and Withholding Forgiveness (John 20:23) - Jesus speaks to the disciples, mentioning that they can forgive or not forgive sin.

Doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29) - Thomas, not with the disciples in the room, states to believe in Jesus, he wants proof and to see not only Jesus but his scars. Jesus appears and Thomas believes.

The Purpose of John's Gospel (John 20:30-31) - John provides us his purpose in this gospel - that people will know Jesus, believe in Him and have life in His name.

John 21

The Disciples Go Fishing (John 21:1-8) - The disciples go on with their lives having not seen Jesus for 7+ days, and fish, but struggle, then Jesus sees them and provides a large catch. And then the disciples recognize Him.

Eating Breakfast with Jesus (John 21:9-14) - The disciples arrive to the land and have fish and bread breakfast with Jesus, at his beckoning. 

Jesus Restores Peter (John 21:15-17) - After earlier Peter denying Jesus three times, to be restored to his place among the disciples, he confessed three times that he would care for Christ's followers. 

Jesus Predicts Peter's Martyrdom (John 21:18-19) - Jesus contrasts the life of Peter from his youthful days to the end of his life, whether he feels life to be certain or not, says that he should follow Him.

Peter Asks about John (John 21:20-24) - Peter asks about the outcome of John and Jesus assures him that his outcome is known and under His control and Peter needs to simply Follow Him.

The Infinite Gospel (John 21:25) - The last verse of John states that much has been written of Jesus but it is not all of what He did, but it is enough to know Him and now live. 

Various Scriptures - The Significance of Peter - Peter reminds us that our hope is Christ, our hope through suffering and difficulties, and we are like stones, firm in our role in Christ and we need to submit to authorities as we trust God to establish authorities to glorify Him. 

The True Israel of God - Lord God, thank you for your deliverance of Israel from Egypt, freeing them from bondage, but more importantly providing them the opportunity to worship You. You are to be worshipped. We are redeemed from bondage to worship You. Jesus, you are the true and greater Israel of God accomplishing what Israel failed to accomplish. You were tempted to worship something other than God alone but God's words sustained You. You are the King and the great Prophet. You suffered on the cross and fulfilled Your role as the greater High Priest and sacrificed Passover Lamb. Your body destroyed, you rose, rising the temple of Your body and becoming our cornerstone. You will return one day and take us to the heavenly Promised Land. 

The Seed of the Woman - God you have a plan to redeem people, to bring them in right relationship to You and in Your Word God; in Genesis, at the beginning, you provide us this information. Today I look at the Lord's interaction with the Serpent as recorded in Genesis 3. Upon sinning, we do not die immediately, but we are spared and things happen: Pain in childbirth occurs. For Eve, Cain was provided as a son and she recognized the Lord provided and yet Cain would kill his brother Abel. Cain appeared to get the upper hand as the devil/Satan often in our world appears to have the upper hand. But God pronounces the curse upon Cain as well, cursed from the ground. Cain went east, farther from God's presence. Cain had a son, Enoch, and built a city naming it after his son. Eventually the 7th generation offspring of Cain was Lamech and later the first person to practice polygamy. Lamech acted as though he were greater than God. The promise had been given by God in Genesis 4:15 that, "whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And Lamech is the 7th generation. After Abel being killed, a replacement son was born to Eve - Seth. And his son, Enosh - and then "people began to call on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 4:26)" Enosh is better than Enoch. This Enosh 7th generation from Seth. Enoch walked with God and did not taste death. Then a new Lamech came from Enosh who would father Noah, a type of Christ, righteous among an adulterous people. With Noah, most of the serpentine line perished, except Ham, son of Noah. God provides salvation fully and finally in the work of Christ. In Christ, I am reconciled to God Himself. 

Abraham's Seed - God made a covenant with Abraham: a seed, a land, and a universal blessing and each finds ultimate significance in the Lord Jesus Christ. God promises Abraham offspring, also Adam and Eve and later David. Abraham will be a father of many nations. The seed promise was Isaac and then Jacob and the nation of Israel, all in the line of Christ. From Israel Christ came according to the flesh and so Israel and Abraham were the means to the messianic promise. The seed is spiritual - more numerous that the stars of heaven or sands of sea. Jesus was a physical descendant. True children have faith. The ultimate seed is Jesus Christ himself. Offspring or seed is singular as Paul, with Jesus as son of David and son of Abraham. Land was a real, geographic territory. Jesus reconciles us to God. Enemies can't stand against this seed being advanced. Christ will build his church and gates of hell will not withstand this. He hung on a tree so the blessing of Abraham, through Christ, might come to the Gentiles. Abraham chosen for his line to the Messiah. 

Judah's Scepter - Kingship climaxes with the Davidic monarchy. The Lord promised Abraham that "kings shall come from you" (Genesis 17:6). Jacob pronounces a blessing to his sons (Gen. 49) and the future kingship of God's people. Starting in verse 8, Judah is the object of praise and has dominion over his enemies. Like a lion in verse 9 he rests in his den after a kill. And then in verse 10 says a "scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the ruler's staff from between his feet." 

A Prophet Like Moses

David's Son

The Messianic King

The Eternal Priest

Of The Virgin's Womb

Prince of Peace

The Stump of Jesse

A Ruler from Bethlehem

The Lord's Shepherd - 

Bless the Lord - Jacob wanted to be blessed and wrestled God until he received that blessing. Lord, I want your favor, unmerited. You chose Abraham, spoke to him and blessed him, choosing him out of the sheer pleasure of Your mysterious will and for Your name's sake. I do not earn salvation, but instead You chose me, blessing me and sanctifying me. I bless you God, by honoring You and esteeming You in my heart and life. I praise You. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name" (Psalm 103:1). Remind me to Bless You Lord, to honor and esteem You, not partially but with my whole being. 

Joy and Strength - Lord, I can normally be grieved by my sin but you want me to not be grieved but the joy of the Lord is My strength always. Rather than focusing on my sin, I focus instead on what Christ has done for me and what He is doing in me as I follow Him and serve Him. 

The Cradle and the Cross - Thank you God for the things in our life that you use to trigger memories and providence. The ornaments on the Christmas tree remind me of crafts the kids have made, places we have been and times we have had together. As I see the cross, help me to always be reminded of your great love for me in dying for me. Focus me on the cross always and your sacrifice for me. Thank you for your great example and great teaching, but ultimately you God sent Jesus to perfectly fulfill the requirements of the Law, and satisfy God's justice. Jesus bore Christ's wrath on the cross for me and for all you have called. You are my rescue. 

Meek Like Moses

Flee from Sexual Immorality

Making Prayer a Priority

Paying Attention in Worship

Shining Lights by Not Grumbling

A Shadow of Christ

Various Scriptures - The Significance of Peter

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Message: The Significance of Peter

What the Lord is Saying: The rock that is mentioned is most likely Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. Catholicism believes this to be the justification of the institution of the papacy and the pope as lead bishop in the Roman church. But Peter did play a great role as being the first Apostle to confess the faith of Jesus as the Christ, the first Apostle to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and the first Apostle to preach to the Jews on Pentecost. And he gave us part of God's word with 1 and 2 Peter, and this is the basis of Mark's gospel. 

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I Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Message: The Apostle of Hope

What the Lord is Saying: Peter is said to be the Apostle of Hope. Hope is the confidence we have in the fulfillment of God's promises. It reminds us that God is incapable of breaking His pledges to us. This reality in our lives sustains faith in our hearts. What God says is true. 

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I Peter 1:4-5

4 to [obtain] an inheritance [which] is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Message: A Hope Kept in Heaven

What the Lord is Saying: I Peter mostly written in AD 60 address Christian suffering. In suffering, we focus on what will be birthed at the end of suffering and in this suffering the time frame of it will be limited. Some suffering on this earth is short, like pain in childbirth and after it comes a baby. As bad as things are they will not be forever. I think of this often in people like Joni or even my dad now who is suffering with such back pain and sorrow, not able to get himself out of it. Not allowing himself to get himself out of it. Almost content with it I feel at times. He wouldn't say so, and yet he isn't doing anything to change. The mind is so powerful. To hear of people like Rob's wife who is always happy and smiling. Give me hope God, not only when things are easy, but when they are hard. 

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I Peter 2:4-8

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone." 

8 and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE;"

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Message: Living Stones in A Spiritual House

What the Lord is Saying: Christ is the foundation upon which the church is built. We are the church. As in today's passage and elsewhere physical objects are used to describe something non-physical or give us a picture of what God is in our life. "I am the living water." "I am the bread of life." These are metaphors used constantly in scripture. Jesus is our corner stone and so he stands out from others. 

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I Peter 2:13-14

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

Message: Submission to Authority

What the Lord is Saying: We live in a culture that often does not like authority and yet we are called as Christians to submit ourselves to authority. Women are called to submit to their husbands, something else which is often misunderstood and often under attack. We are under authority those who punish evildoers and praise those who do right. I am not sure if that refers to all of our authorities. I think we need to be careful of simply saying if there is any injustice that we don't have to submit. I struggled through this with COVID, not so much what we were being told but the way the church we were attending was responding to it, but maybe they were taking a harder stance than I cared for. Is this black and white? I just wonder if we sometimes look for ways to be disobedient and maybe we need to default to obedience rather than disobedience. 

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I Peter 5:1-5

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Message: Shepherding the Flock of God

What the Lord is Saying: Christians need to submit to authorities, but also those with authority need to exercise rule and authority over the church. It is our elders, as this passage notes that is exercising this authority over people and we as Christians need to look to them. Elders need to be called to their role (verse 2) and not be serving because they are under compulsion. Also in their roles they are not to be domineering or doing their job just to get some sort of profit from it. We need to have humble men in service and not those that are using their roles to have some sort of power over others. 

Summary: Peter reminds us that our hope is Christ, our hope through suffering and difficulties, and we are like stones, firm in our role in Christ and we need to submit to authorities as we trust God to establish authorities to glorify Him. 

John 21:25 - The Infinite Gospel

John 21:25

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

Message: The Infinite Gospel

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Well, here I am at the end of my study of the book of John. I made it. I started on July 4, 2023 and now I am at the end. It has been a good study and yet not complete. I think on any given day, any given verse, there is more to understand and study, but in the time that I have, it has been good. 

This is another interesting verse - for the writer - admits that while He has recorded the events of Jesus, he has picked the events and story of Him that He believes is most important. The Devotional that I follow - Tabletalk - says we have only scratched the surface of what Jesus did. Meaning we have studied, but not completely - only in bite size portions the ideas of:

• Jesus as the Son of Man (3:1-15)
• The One with Life in Himself (5:26)
• The Bread of Life (6:35)
• The Living Water (7:38)
• The Light of the World (8:12)
• The Good Shepherd (10:11)
• The Resurrection and the Life (11:25)
• The Savior of the World (12:47)
• The Way, the Truth, the Life (14:6)
• The Giver of the Holy Spirit (14:16)
• The True Vine (15:1)
• The Great Intercessor (17)
• The King of the Jews (19:19)
• The Creator Himself incarnate (1:1-18; 8:58)

While He was born to this earth, He has always been and while He died He rose again, so He will always be. So therefore there is no book that could contain all that He has done or maybe life should not only be about books. Life should also be about living. John has given us enough about Jesus that we should be able to live and follow Him. 

The King James Version of this passage has an Amen at the end of this passage. NASB does not which I am using. It seems to be a word that was added naturally to mark the ending. 

When i am in the company of people and praying, I will voice an "Amen" to show that the prayer is over. But, often in these lessons, when I am writing I do not record an Amen. I do this to show that my life continues to be about prayer and talking to God. 

Summary: The last verse of John states that much has been written of Jesus but it is not all of what He did, but it is enough to know Him and now live. 

Promise: Our duty is to keep reading these words and keep going back to them, again and again, while we also continue to live our lives and Follow Him. 

Prayer: Thank you for this Gospel, these words that You inspired John to speak and that they are spoken to me, even now. There is truths here that I believe are truths even for me today. John described to me Jesus who is God in flesh and has all the authority that God had. God you have been great in this study to reveal truth to me. I have been amazed of the application of Your Word and these words as I have studied them and their application to me today. There is great joy in Your word and what it says. Thank you for this gospel and help me now to be true to it, and pass it onto others. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 21:20-24 - Peter Asks about John

John 21:20-24

20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

Message: Peter Asks about John

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: In the last passage Peter's life is contrasted, from the beginning of his life when he is young and ambitious and has the world before his eyes, to the end of his life when Jesus foretold his death as a martyr. And also in speaking this he remarks about how there is a way of life that is outside of our control that we don't control. This is death but other things as well. There is a trust that occurs in life in outcomes. We can try to control things and do things to the best of our ability but at some point things are not in our control and will happen differently. 

We were with some friends the other night and talked to them about how they met. It was an interesting story and how the gal had seen a picture of the guy and he came for a visit and he thought that she was close friends with his brother and wife and the guy wasn't real impressed with the character of his brother's wife (they would later divorce). It wasn't until they had an argument that the gal revealed she doesn't really know his brother's wife. And this then made the guy see the gal in a whole new light. In way, God used an argument or some fighting to open the eyes of two people in a new way. 3 days later, spending time together, they left each other with a confidence and idea that they would always be together. 

There are some things in life we control and some things we don't control. What we control is how we live and respond to situations. It is important to be committed to God, to something outside of our marriage. And trust that God will always be working on our mate. It is important I think to always be in church together, in small group community, in finding ways to do things together - like riding bikes or working in the yard, or going to the gym or even watching TV. And praying. Not that we are perfect in those things always, but striving to do those things together. 

In this passage we have Peter being told to follow Jesus and now Jesus wonders what will happen to John. A comparison occurs by Peter. He has just found out his outcome and he immediately now wonders what will happen to John. His fate is known, but he now looks to his brother. That sibling rivalry which happened with Cain and Abel, which God addresses in his commandment of coveting. And now Peter brings it up. What about John? Peter has just found out about his life and he has been told he needs to simply Follow Jesus and trust Jesus and his first reaction is, "What about John?" 

Now John has started following Jesus and Peter. Jesus has been speaking to Peter, providing specific language to Peter about his life and beckoning Him to follow and John hears this and through the working of another person in His life, follows. John isn't told something directly but he still follows. 

However, maybe Peter had the best in mind for his brother and maybe he wants to make sure that John's future is also under God's control. It is interesting that in Peter referring to John he quotes from the last last supper time when John asked Jesus about Judas as Jesus predicted also the future of one who will betray. That is how Peter brings up John. 

And then Peter asks, "what about this man?” Interesting here. Peter wants to know his brother's outcome. His intention is not clear for asking this question - perhaps he is comparing and perhaps he is concerned about his brother. Jesus responds in verse 22 that his outcome or his future is really not a concern to Peter. We need to take care of ourselves and trust that God knows the best for others. Jesus reminds Peter of his calling to "Follow Me." 

In verse 24 is the reminder that the words spoken in this book are the words of John, the disciple immediately in question in previous verses by Peter. 

Summary: Peter asks about the outcome of John and Jesus assures him that his outcome is known and under His control and Peter needs to simply Follow Him. 

Promise: As we follow the Lord where He has placed us, He will bless us and give us the strength to remain true to Him. 

Prayer: Father, thank you for your great love. I follow You. I follow You Lord and thank you for blessing me with peace and life today. You are the great God. You are living in Me and I pray that I would honor You with my life and you would strengthen me always each day in my endeavors. Help me to not get off course, looking to my right or left but stay focused on You always. Thank you for the blessing of those around me, like my wife and giving me that great gift. Help us to be focused on one another and always committed to You. Be glorified in all we do and say. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.