Date: 03-31-2021

Title: Less Is More

(S) cripture:
    Judges 7:1-8 (NLT2) So Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3 Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.'” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. 4 But the LORD told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” 5 When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” 6 Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. 7 The LORD told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” 8 So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon.

(O) bservation:
    When Gideon wanted to drive out the Midianites, he called together all the warriors to go to battle with his. This was about 32,000 warriors. God began to reduce the size of the army so that the Israelites could not boast that they achieved the victory by their own strength. Gideons army was whittled down to 300 warriors, total. With this army and the Lord’s provision Gideon defeated the Midianites.

(A) pplication:
    I often wonder just how Gideon felt being told by God to battle a huge army but to do so with only 300 instead of 32,000 warriors in his army. Doesn’t make sense to me but in God’s economy often “less is more”. I am also aware that I often gather a much or as many as I can to accomplish what the Lord sets before me to do. That is my “go to” mode and I do so without consulting the Lord about what or how much I really need. The lesson here is that with the Lord, “less is more, and what he gives is always enough. Today I want to hear his voice and use what he provides for whatever is before me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, teach me to trust in you and the resources you provide. Give me courage to trust that with you “less is more” and always enough. Amen

Date: 03-30-2021

Title: God Calls Women

(S) cripture:
    Judges 4:4-9 (NLT2) Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. 5 She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. 6 One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.” 8 Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” 9 “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

(O) bservation:
    God called Deborah to be a judge (political leader) in Israel. She sends Barak out to fight Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. Barak refuses to go unless Deborah goes with him. She agrees but makes it known that he will not get credit for the victory because God will give it to them by the hands of a woman. That is just what happened when Jael drives a tent peg through Sisera’s head while he is hiding and asleep in her tent. It is interesting to me that so many still think that women are to have no leadership roles in the church. Often the claim is that there was not a man available in this story, so God had to use a woman. How bankrupt is that kind of justification. The Lord has always called women to service and leadership in his kingdom.

(A) pplication:
    I am confident that God’s call is active in all of his followers. I want to be sure to help every person to understand and live out that call in their lives. It matters not whether they are male or female, God’s call is to be followed. I am to honor and recognize that call in every life not just in men. My wife has lived out God’s call in her life as a leader in the local church, the West Virginia Baptist Convention and in our denomination. To limit God’s call to males only is to ignore what God is doing in the lives of most of our congregations. I am thankful for the call of God to lead His people and will celebrate it in both women and men.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, forgive us for limiting your call in your people. Help me to recognize, cultivate and celebrate Your Call in every life. Thank you for the women you called to impact my life. Amen

Date: 03-29–2021

Title: Who Will You Serve

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT2) “So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

(O) bservation:
    In his last address to the people Joshua challenges them to serve the Lord. He acknowledges the choice before them. They can choose to serve the gods of their ancestors in Egypt of the gods of the people around them or they can serve the Lord God. Joshua challenges and encourages them to serve the Lord and not to fall prey to the worship of other gods. The then makes the declaration for his household. Regardless of what others choose, he and his household will choose to serve the Lord.

(A) pplication:
    There are many things (gods) clamoring for our attention and worship. All around us we are being encouraged to divert our worship away from the Lord and onto other things. To serve the Lord is a daily choice that we each must make. To put away idols and other gods is also a choice we make. We cannot worship both, we must choose. Today I choose to follow and serve the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Father, make me aware when my attention and devotion are being diverted. Forgive me when I stray. Today I choose to follow and serve you. Amen

Date: 03-28-2021

Title: Joshua’s Land

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 19:49-51 (NLT2) After all the land was divided among the tribes, the Israelites gave a piece of land to Joshua as his allocation. 50 For the LORD had said he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there. 51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders allocated as grants of land to the tribes of Israel by casting sacred lots in the presence of the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. So the division of the land was completed.

(O) bservation:
    The people kept God’s promise to Joshua and gave him the choice of land he wanted. He built and lived there. This completed the division of the land.

(A) pplication:
    It is important for God’s people to keep God’s promises. For Joshua and Caleb’s courage and faithfulness when they returned from spying out the land, they were each promised their own portion of the land. Joshua kept the promise to Caleb and now the people keep the promise for Joshua. To lead faithfully I must recognize God’s work and promise in the lives of others and then be part of seeing that promise kept. It is also important for the church to keep its promise and responsibility for the care and provision of its leaders. I have been fortunate to serve churches that did just that. They each paid a living wage that allowed me to, like Joshua, build a life and live in the community, raise a family and take part in community events. I thank God for their care for my family and me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for the faithfulness of your people to me and my family. You called me to wonderful and faithful churches. Thank you for your provision in my life. Amen

Date: 03-27-2021

Title: Dividing The Land

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 18:1-3 (NLT2) Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle. 2 But there remained seven tribes who had not yet been allotted their grants of land. 3 Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?

(O) bservation:
    When the land was finally under Israelite control it could be divided among the remaining seven tribes. There was work to do in mapping out the land and being sure that each tribe was getting a proper portion of land. The tribes were receiving what God had promised them after what seemed a long wait.

(A) pplication:
    Often it seems that we must wait for God to fulfill his promises to us. Truth is that God’s timing is always right and right on time. He gives us what we need when we need it and when it will fulfill his purposes not necessarily ours. It is important that I learn to wait on the Lord and not try to move ahead of him. That is not a reason to be lazy but rather active doing what he has commanded. It takes patience and that is a lesson I need to continually learn and a virtue I need to continually exercise.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, continue to teach me patience. Thank you for always being right on time with the things I need. Give me the strength and courage to trust and wait on You. Amen

Date: 03-26-2021

Title: No Foe Too Big For God

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 15:63 (NLT2) But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.

    Joshua 16:10 (NLT2) They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.

    Joshua 17:18 (NLT2) The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.”

(O) bservation:
    The command from the Lord was to drive out all the people living n the land the Lord was giving them. In the reading for today the tribes of Judah and Ephraim did not do what the Lord commanded, and it will cause trouble for them in the future. The tribe of Manasseh were not able to drive out the Canaanites but did make those in the hill country slaves. When they asked for more land Joshua tells them to forests and hills are theirs also. They are to clear as much as they wanted and they would also drive out the Canaanites in the lowland even though they had iron chariots.

(A) pplication:
    Incomplete obedience always leads to trouble or compromise. The lesson here is that even though the foe seems too strong to defeat we are to move forward trusting in the promise of God. It is important for me to do just what the Lord commands in the way the Lord commands because to do differently is to invite defeat and trouble into my life. Even though the challenge before me seems to be overwhelming (iron chariots) I am to trust what God has said and promised. I am to obey the Lord and move forward. I know there is no foe too big for the Lord so in that knowledge I will move forward today regardless of the task or obstacle ahead.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, give me courage to stay the course and move forward trusting You. Remind me that there is no foe too big for you. Amen

Date: 03-25-2021

Title: Give Me That Mountain

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 14:6-12 (NLT2) A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the LORD said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the LORD, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, 8 but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God. 9 So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.’ 10 “Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So give me the hill country that the LORD promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said.”

(O) bservation:
    When the land was being divided Caleb comes to Joshua and reminds him of the promise Moses made to him when he returned from spying out the land. I am sure that Joshua remembered because he was the other that advocated for moving forward and trusting the Lord while the other ten spies gave a negative report. Caleb is now 85 and ready to take the mountain and drive out the giants living there. He moved forward with the same energy and strength he had when he was spying out the land 45 years earlier.

(A) pplication:
    We tend to wind down in our “senior years” and let the young folks carry the load. This scripture reminds me that if I am drawing breath the Lord still has something for me to do. I may not be able to say with Caleb that I have the same strength and energy I had as a 40 year old but I still have something to offer and tasks to complete for the Lord. Today I renew my commitment to pursue all that God has for me and to do so with all the strength and energy I have. My desire is the same result that Caleb got – peace in the land.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, renew my energy and strength so I can follow you and do all you have for me to do. Let me conquer the giants that stand in the way and bring peace to those around me. Amen

Date: 03-24-2021

Title: Be Careful Of The Treaties You Make

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 9:3-16 (NLT2) But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins. 5 They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy. 6 When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us.” 7 The Israelites replied to these Hivites, “How do we know you don’t live nearby? For if you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.” 8 They replied, “We are your servants.” “But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?” 9 They answered, “Your servants have come from a very distant country. We have heard of the might of the LORD your God and of all he did in Egypt. 10 We have also heard what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan (who lived in Ashtaroth). 11 So our elders and all our people instructed us, ‘Take supplies for a long journey. Go meet with the people of Israel and tell them, “We are your servants; please make a treaty with us.”‘ 12 “This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.” 14 So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. 16 Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!

(O) bservation:
    The Lord had told Joshua and the people to destroy all the people living in the land He had promised to them. When the Gibeonites heard what the Israelites and done to Jericho and Ai they were afraid and made a plan to deceive the Israelites and safe themselves from destruction. It was an elaborate plan and it fooled Joshua and the leaders of Israel and so they made a treaty and a vow before God not to destroy the Gibeonites. The text notes that they did not consult with the Lord before making this treaty and then learned that the Gibeonites lived near and should have been destroyed. Joshua kept the promise not to destroy them, but he made them slaves and they remained slaves.

(A) pplication:
    We are often approached by people with their own agendas who want us to make a treaty or join them or “make peace” with them. It may sound good but often their purposes are not God’s purposes. Too often we make these alliances in the name of tolerance or diversity or some other noble cause only to find out that we were being played the fool and are now in a compromising position. As with the Israelites these decisions are made without consulting the Lord and discerning the real motives. Those kinds of decisions always lead to trouble. Today my desire is to consult the Lord before I make any commitment to a group or cause.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, make me aware when I am rushing into a decision. Remind me to seek your counsel before I commit. Grant me wisdom and discernment so that my life can honor you. Amen

Date: 03-23-2021

Title: The Sin Of One Brought Defeat

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 7:1-5 (NLT2) But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah. 2 Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. 3 When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.” 4 So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5 chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.

(O) bservation:
    At the battle of Jericho the Lord told the Israelites to take nothing for themselves but all was to be set apart for the Lord. Achan, though took a robe, 200 silver coins and a bar of gold for himself. He buried it in his tent. Ai was a small town outside of Jericho so Joshua only sent 3000 soldiers to take it. They were defeated soundly and that brought fear into Israel’s camp. As Joshua prayed the Lord revealed that some of the things that were to be set apart for the Lord had been stolen. This led Joshua to Achan. Achan confesses his sin and he and all he has is taken out of the camp and stoned and burned. Then Israel went on to defeat Ai and to take the rest of the promised land. Here, the sin of one man stopped the movement of God’s army.

(A) pplication:
    This lesson makes me wonder just how much of the work of the church is hindered by willful sin in the camp. Is it still true that the sin of one can halt the movement of God’s army? Today I do not want to be that one. Today I renew my commitment to obey the Lord’s commands and to follow His leading.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, Thank you for your grace and mercy in allowing for me to confess my sin and then to be used again by you. Let me not take sin so lightly that I dishonor you. Today I want to walk close to you and to honor you in all I do. I do not want to thwart the movement of your church in any way. Let me show the way of obedience to You. Amen

Date: 03-22-2021

Title: Memorials

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 3:8-17 (NLT2) Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.'” 9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the LORD your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. 11 Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will carry the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” 14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

    Joshua 4:21-24 (NLT2) Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever.”

(O) bservation:
    The generation crossing the Jordan at this time may not remember the crossing of the Red Sea. Here again God parts the waters and allows the Israelites to cross on dry ground. It is a reminder of God’s power and provision for the people. It was to strengthen their faith and be a constant reminder or God’s protection. They were to set up a memorial so that when future generations asked what the memorial meant they could be reminded of what God did at both the Red Sea and the Jordan River for the Israelites.

(A) pplication:
    Memorials are important for us. They remind us of important events in our lives. They help us remember God’s presence, protection, provision and power shown to us in those events. On November 14, 1970 the plane carrying the Marshall University Football team and supporters crashed killing all 75 on board. I often visit the Memorial to that event in Springhill Cemetery here in Huntington. It is a memorial to all those that died in that crash. It is the final resting place of the six unidentified players in a common grave. It is a reminder of conversations I had with many of the players and supporters on board. I am also reminded of God’s presence and provision in the days and now years following the crash. It is important to have memorials because they help keep stories alive and keeps us connected to our history.

(P) rayer:
    Father, thank you for being present in my life in those important events. Thank you for helping us create memorials that remind us of your presence, power and protection in those times. Thank you for your constant presence in my life. My desire is to follow You and to live in a way that points people to you. Amen