Date: 03-21-2021

Title: Promises to A New Leader

(S) cripture:
    Joshua 1:1-9 (NLT2) After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

(O) bservation:
    After Moses’ death the Lord calls Joshua to lead the people and makes some promises to him. The Lord also calls for Joshua to do some things. He is to be strong and courageous and obedient. He is to meditate on the Lord’s instructions and the Lord promises success and his presence wherever Joshua goes.

(A) pplication:
    The Lord calls Joshua to lead and reminds him that wherever he places the sole of his foot (NASB) the Lord has given that land to him. I have always been intrigued by that promise. The “sole of your foot” is different from the “sole of your sandal or shoe”. When I am wearing my work boots, I can place my foot just about anywhere I choose but when I am barefoot it is an entirely different situation. I admit, I am a tenderfoot and when barefoot I am very careful where I step. I think that is applicable to this promise. As the Lord leads Joshua and he moves forward he does so with the Lord placing his foot each step. That is the path to success and the experience of God’s presence. I think that God has called each of us and in so doing this promise is for all of us. Our path to knowing God’s presence and having success in His eyes is in obeying his commands, meditating on His Word and following His leading as He places our feet each step of the way. Today I want to follow the Lord and only take the steps sets before me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for your call in my life. Give me the strength and courage to follow you today. Order my steps so as I follow my life will honor you. Amen

Date: 03-20-2021

Title: Choose Life

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 30:11-20 (NLT2) “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. 12 It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ 13 It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ 14 No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. 15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

(O) bservation:
    As Moses addresses the people, he reminds them that God’s commands are not difficult to understand or far away and out of reach. They are given and the choice the people have is between life and death and blessing and curses. Moses then encourages the people to choose life.

(A) pplication:
    I often hear that the Bible is hard to understand and therefore hard or difficult to follow. I am reminded of a quote from Mark Twain, “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” I think that is true for most of us. For me, the Bible is not hard to understand but is impossible to live out in my own strength. I have a choice to make just like the Israelites. I must choose between life and death. I must choose between following Jesus and life or rejecting Jesus and death. I have chosen to follow Jesus and life. His promise to me is abundant life now and eternal life with Him. The Holy Spirit lives in me to empower me to live this life to the full and as a guarantee of eternal life to come. Today I choose life.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for being clear with your commands. Give me understanding and courage to follow you and to choose life. Let me encourage others to choose life, too. Amen

Date: 03-19-2021

Title: The Call to Obedience

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 26:16-19 (NLT2) “Today the LORD your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them wholeheartedly. 17 You have declared today that the LORD is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you. 18 The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. 19 And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as he promised.”

(O) bservation:
    Moses is giving the instructions and commands from the Lord to the people. He is repeating much of what he has told them before but also expanding on some things. While doing that Moses seems to pause and reminds the people of God’s call to obedience and the result in their lives of that obedience.

(A) pplication:
    Although this passage is directed to the nation of Israel it is the individual that must be obedient. In that light, this command is for every individual. It is especially true for those who claim to follow Jesus. Following Jesus places us into the family of God. As we live obediently we too can experience the honor of being God’s special treasure, his chosen people, a royal priesthood (1 Peter). Being obedient allows us to live life as God intended it to be lived. Today I want to be obedient to the Lord so that my life might honor Him.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, grant me the courage and strength to obey you today. I will follow you and your leading in my life. Let my life honor you. Amen

Date: 03-18-2021

Title: Being Neighborly

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 22:1-3 (NLT2) “If you see your neighbor’s ox or sheep or goat wandering away, don’t ignore your responsibility. Take it back to its owner. 2 If its owner does not live nearby or you don’t know who the owner is, take it to your place and keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then you must return it. 3 Do the same if you find your neighbor’s donkey, clothing, or anything else your neighbor loses. Don’t ignore your responsibility.

(O) bservation:
    The people of God have a responsibility to be neighborly. We are to help when needed even if we are inconvenienced. We are to take care of our neighbors.

(A) pplication:
    In our culture many do not know their neighbors and so we live isolated from the people around us. I am fortunate to live with good neighbors around me. When we were moving into our house our neighbor had the man who mowed his lawn mow ours too and paid him for it. He was watching out for me. When we moved back from Michigan, I brought my snowblower with me. Now when it snows enough to be shoveled, I get the snowblower out and do my driveway and the driveways of the neighbors on either side. This kind of watching out for each other has built friendships I did not expect. Being neighborly takes on a whole new meaning when I see it as a responsibility given to be by the Lord. I want to continue to be a good neighbor and look forward to meeting the folks that will move in next door when that house is sold.

(P) rayer:
    Father, thank you for my neighbors and the friendships we have. Give me the grace and strength to be a good neighbor and to honor you in the days ahead.

Date: 03-17-2021

Title: The Benefits of Reading God’s Word

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (NLT2) “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.

(O) bservation:
    Moses’ instructions for the king are good for us. In addition to making his own copy of the Law, the king was to keep it with him and read it daily. This daily reading of God’s Word would keep the king from becoming proud and from turning away from God’s commands. It also ensured his and his descendants place in Israel.

(A) pplication:
    I am so fortunate to have a full copy of God’s Word not just the Law. I am fortunate to live on this side of the cross where Jesus died to pay the price for my sins. I am blessed by having the Holy Spirit living in me to empower me to live life as God intended it to be lived. With all that, this instruction is still a good one for me. I need to be reading God’s Word each day so that my life would reflect the benefits listed in this passage. I want to grow in my reverence of (fear) and obedience to the Lord. I want to humbly walk with the Lord and follow His leading. All that is enhanced by reading His Word daily. If I am to grow in my love and relationship with the Lord I must spend time with Him by reading His Word each day. I commit myself again to continue the habit of reading God’s Word each day and allowing it to transform me into the person God wants me to be.

(P) rayer:
    Father, you have promised that your Word would not return void but would accomplish the purpose for which you sent it. Let your Word do its work in me today. Amen

Date: 03-16-2021

Title: False Prophets

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (NLT2) “Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, 2 and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— 3 do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. 5 The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the LORD your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you.

(O) bservation:
    Not every prophet is from the Lord. The test is not just whether what they say comes about but also the god they worship. If a prophet encourages you to worship a god other than Jehovah, then that prophet is a false prophet. That prophet must be removed immediately.

(A) pplication:
    It seems to me that we have a cavalier attitude toward false prophets today. In the name of tolerance, we allow them to influence the church. Often, we see these false prophets promoting their own selfish gain and fame. My desire is to be true to the Word that God has given and to continually point people to Jesus. I also want to help protect the people I serve from being taken in by the false prophets around us.

(P) rayer:
    Lord give me discernment to correctly identify and challenge the false prophets around me. My desire is to be true to You and Your Word when I preach and teach. Let me continually point people to Jesus. Amen

Date: 03-15-2021

Title: What God Requires

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NLT2) “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

(O) bservation:
    Moses answers the question, “What does the Lord require?” This is a call to live out the Shema from chapter six. We are to obey God’s commands for our own good.

(A) pplication:
    Micah repeats this when he writes, No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 NLT2). These behaviors and heart attitudes will characterize the life of a person living as God intends. The passages from Deuteronomy and Micah go hand in hand to show me how to live. Today I will seek to live out these passages as I interact with people. I want my life to reflect the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, give me courage and strength to live life as you intend it to be lived. Let my life reflect your love today. Amen

Date: 03-14-2021

Title: The Shema, Our Foundation

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NLT2) “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

(O) bservation:
    In this statement, called the Shema, Moses gives the people the foundation they need to lay in their lives in order to live as God intended them to live. They were to Live this way and to teach this to their children from generation to generation.

(A) pplication:
    Jesus uses the Shema in teaching us how we are to live. This teaching is the foundation on which our lives of faith in Jesus are built. We cannot please God if we do not live out this command.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, Grant to me the strength and courage to always love you with all that I am. It is my desire to live a life that honors you. Amen

Date: 03-13-2021

Title: A Reminder

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 5:1-22 (NLT2) Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them! 2 “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Mount Sinai. 3 The LORD did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today. 4 At the mountain the LORD spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire. 5 I stood as an intermediary between you and the LORD, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said: 6 “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 7 “You must not have any other god but me. 8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 11 “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. 15 Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the LORD your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. 16 “Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 17 “You must not murder. 18 “You must not commit adultery. 19 “You must not steal. 20 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 21 “You must not covet your neighbor’s wife. You must not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. 22 “The LORD spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

(O) bservation:
    In Moses’ second address to the people he reminds the people of the covenant God made with them at Mt. Sinai. That is the giving of the ten commandments. Moses recounts them as a reminder for the people and as an encouragement to keep them and so honor their relationship with the Lord

(A) pplication:
    We are prone to forget or maybe ignore the commands of God in our lives. We also need reminders and that is one reason we as pastors are to preach the Word and not something else. It is the Word that reveals God and His character to us. It is the Word that gives us knowledge of how God desires us to live. It is the Word that points us to Jesus. It is important that we preach the Word as a reminder to God’s children of who we are called to be and how we are to behave in this world. As I read through the Bible each day I am reminded of just how good and gracious and forgiving God has been to me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for your Word and the constant reminder it is to me of what you desire for and from me. Let me live in a way that honors you. Amen

Date: 03-12-2021

Title: Move Out

(S) cripture:
    Deuteronomy 1:6-8 (NLT2) “When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. 8 Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’”

(O) bservation:
    Moses is addressing the people and giving an account of all God’s instructions to them. Moses recounts how the Lord saw them at Mt. Sinai and told them they had been there long enough. It’s time to break camp and move out to the land I have promised you.

(A) pplication:
    Too often we stay in a place that is familiar and comfortable when the Lord has something greater ahead for us. The pandemic has forced us as a church to do things differently using technology we had not considered using before. Now as there seems to be an end in sight for the pandemic restrictions there is some push to return to what we were before the pandemic hit. I wonder if this is not a time where the Lord is saying to us that it is time to move out and go to a new land He has for us. I hope we do not look back on this and realize we missed out because we stayed where we were.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, give us courage to move into the future you have for us even if it is different from what we have known and are comfortable with. Amen