Day 84
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Welcome to Day 84 of our Life Journal!
Click here for today’s reading: Joshua 21, 22; Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10 (2012 Daily Bible Reading Plan)
Before you comment or read what I have posted, please read the following passages for yourself and complete your own S.O.A.P. exercise… How does this work?
S.O.A.P = Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
S cripture
Joshua 21, “So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands. 45
Not one
… of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
Joshua 22:24-27, 29, “We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25 The LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the LORD.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. 26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings.” 29 “Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle.”
Psalm 47, “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. 9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.”
1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And
God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
O bservation
First observation from the passage in Joshua… The eastern tribes built an altar as a reminder that though they had not crossed the Jordan river, they were still part of the community. They wanted to make sure that down the road they were viewed as such.
Yet again, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness. He’s faithful to his promises, to his people and to watch over us.
2 Timothy 2:13, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
A pplication
Regarding the building of that altar… in the short term, they were perceived as disobedient. The lesson here, a little communication goes a long way. They could have simply informed Joshua of their intent to build an altar simply for a reminder… that it would never be used to sacrifice a burnt offering.
I love that God is faithful. He remains faithful.
What about if/when we are faithless?? He is still faithful. He cannot deny who he is!
P rayer
Thank you for that Lord… that you remain faithful! Strengthen me to remain faithful to you!
Click here to listen to one of my favorite worship songs about our Faithful Father.
Vineyard Life Journal 
Kelley’s version:
“You are tempted just like anyone else, BUT God is faithful. He will give you whatever you need to resist the temptation. He will show you a way out. ”
We must look for what God shows us when faced with temptation.
Stay humble. You are special to God. He is with you. Pray all of the time about how to handle temptation. Pray the way out would be clear. Remember, He does not give to us as the world gives. What might seem like a way out might be another trap from the devil. You must know the scripture so you can discern the truth.
Lord, thank you for speaking to me this morning. I know you are with me.
1 Cor 10:8-10
“We must not be guilty of sexual immorality, as some of them were-and in one day twenty-three thousand of them fell dead. We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did-and they were killed by snakes. We must not complain, as some of them did-and they were destroyed by the Angel of Death.”
Sexual immorality, testing the Lord,….complaining. Complaining is addressed right along with sexual immorality. I need to be careful with my tongue-slow to speak, never complaining or grumbling. There are things that just don’t need to be said. There is life or death in the tongue-and I have to remember that. Others don’t need to know the worst thing my spouse did this week, or how my child irritates me, or how this or that could be better.
1 Cor 10:24 “None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others.”
Selfless living. Once again.
1 Cor 10:31 “Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God’s glory.”
Lord, thank you for new mercies every morning. Thank you for quiet times to hear your voice. Thank you that you are in control, for being faithful, always present and ready to hold me when I need you. Please help me to slow down in all areas of my life, but especially in my speech. Please help me to choose my words wisely. For today, Lord, help me to put others first. Help me to be fully present with each person that I encounter-open to how you might use me to minister to them. I want to bring you glory. I want to be your good and faithful servant.
I Cor 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But if you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
One of my favorite Bible verses! It tells us that
(1) we are not alone; suffering is universal
(2) God set limits on our trials (
3) God will always provide a way out.
Isn’t this encouraging?
Reblogged this on shaneknick.