147th Week, Joshua Chapters 20-24 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

Click on title For Video Intro

Monday, Joshua Chapter 20

Joshua 20

Verses 1-3

Delores Little

Verses 1-3:  Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.”

THOUGHT

Can you see the compassion of God in this chapter?  What does that tell us for today and the time we are living in?  I felt the Lord showing me last night that our city of refuge is JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

We can say we have not murdered anyone, BUT, we have, Dear Ones.  It can be in our thinking or how we treat someone. We can be killing them inside by how or what we do or say to them.  But thanks be to God who has given us our Lord Jesus.  He took it all on the cross so we can freely come to our Father in Jesus Name and by the Holy Spirit leading us to be set free.

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR CITY OF REFUGE. Praise the Lord. He has set us free indeed.  Let us never forget that.

PRAYER

Father, we ask forgiveness of our sins in word, thought and deed. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay it all for us.  Use us as You would have us to be used in the place we are now. Bless all who are expecting babies with healthy little ones. Heal those who need healing, protect all who are in the service and our president who needs wisdom from You daily to run this country.  In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN

Tuesday, Joshua Chapter 21

Joshua 21

Verses 44-45

Delores Little

Verses 44-45:  The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.

THOUGHT

In this chapter we see the Levites finally getting their cities and pasturelands, 48 in all.  It is very plain why we need to support our Pastors.  Through prayer, special gifts, thoughtful acts, words of affirmation and financial support, we can make our pastors or missionaries feel appreciated. What is interesting is that the Levites were the last to get what was due them.  The Lord tells us first to give to the church then deal with the rest of your finances.  

In verses 44-45 we read, “The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.”

This is really a lesson for us, that when we do follow our Father and His Word the same thing can happen to us. It is really letting go and letting God use us as He wants us to be used. 

PRAYER

Father, there is always a reason for the scriptures You have in Your Word.  You want to show us something, even though sometimes it isn’t the most interesting thing to read. Open our eyes to see what You are telling us through Your Word each day. Be with our service men and women and those who need healing and comforting. We praise and thank You for everything.  In Jesus Name. AMEN

Wednesday, Joshua Chapter 22

Joshua 22

Delores Little

THOUGHT

After many years of God helping them take the land, the 2 1/2 tribes are ready to head back home, and Joshua blessed them and sent them away. They took with them great wealth in silver, gold, bronze, and iron, livestock and a great quantity of clothing, which was the plunder that was divided among them.

They went home and decided to build an altar by the Jordan River. When the other Israelites heard of it, they sent Phinehas, the priest, to find out about the altar.  The altar is named “A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.” In this, we see the tribes truly wanted God over them and to follow Him.

What lesson can we learn from this? Are we willing to take the land God sets before us and to share the Good News with others in our towns, cities and far countries? The land God wants us to take is bringing the News of Him to others. We have become so comfortable in the USA.  We hear about the hardships in other places; it makes us sad, but then we just get busy with our everyday responsibilities. I think God is taking us out of our comfort zone to do new things for Him. 

Are we ready to go and do it? I sure pray we are. That is why it is so important to read His Word every day, to have His Heavenly food in us.  (Ps.119:11 “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”) With His Word we have an answer to give them who ask us about our hope, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Peter 3:15:  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, forgive us and arm us to go forth for You. Help us to be ambassadors for You in this world we are in, whether it is in prayer, devotions, church, work, out to eat or taking trips.  Let the Salt Shakers shine for You, Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ.  We ask this in Jesus Name. AMEN

Thursday, Joshua Chapter 23

Joshua 23

Verse 11

Delores Little

Verse 11:  So be very careful to Love the Lord your God.

THOUGHT

This verse brings together all the things Joshua has been telling the people in this chapter as he has aged. His heart had been right with God from the time he came out of Egypt to the time he died. What a Godly man he was, and he wanted the people God put him over to do the same.  He shared with them the following: 

1.  Their inheritance that God had given them.

2.  The nations that were conquered between Jordan & the Great Sea.

3.  How the Lord drove them out and how He fought for them.

4.  Told them to be very strong and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses.

5.  Do not associate with the nations that remain among them.

6.  Do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them.  

7.  You are to hold fast to the Lord Your God as you have until now.

8.  Do not intermarry with them or associate with them.

9.  Notice that as long as Joshua was alive they followed the way of the Lord.

All this is to teach us so that we will know what to do in our walk. To obey is so important.  Now we are commanded to take God’s Word to the nations because He wants everyone to be saved.

PRAYER

Father, help us to do what You want us to do in word, thought and deed. Thank You for all we walk through and what You are teaching us. Give us a teachable Spirit to learn all we can from Your Word every day and do it. Let us pray all for our leaders and believers and nonbelievers to come to You and for Your peace. We praise and thank You for all things.  Help us every day to do Your Will not ours.  In Jesus Name. AMEN

Friday, Joshua Chapter 24

Joshua 24

Verse 15

Delores Little

Verse 15: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Ammonites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 

THOUGHT

I remember when I was saved and accepted Jesus into my life at the age of 24. I had quite an awakening from God.  When He touched me, I wept.  But one day while I was riding in the car with Willie, I asked myself who I want to follow, God or the world? I really thought about this, and I finally said, “Lord, I will follow You.”  I have never been sorry since, but oh how I’ve been tested in this walk in so many ways. God had a lot of cleaning out in me to do, and He is still at it.  For the first 3 months that I was a believer every night I felt like worms were crawling under my skin.  It drove me

crazy.  A spiritual friend said God was cleaning out the old garbage.  It was worth everything I have walked through with Him to come this far.

After you read verses 19-20, we can thank God for sending Jesus Christ to help us walk this walk with Him. Back then God didn’t put up with their rebellion and sins, and He won’t with us if we don’t ask forgiveness every day.  Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the gift of forgiveness.  

PRAYER

Father, bless this day and weekend for us all.  Heal the ill and those having surgery.  Watch over our service men and women and leaders of this country. I praise and thank You, Father, for who You are in our lives through Your beloved Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN