Bible League: Living His Word "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."The words of our verse for today are part of Moses' final instructions to the people of Israel. Joshua was slated to take over the leadership of the people after the death of Moses. He would soon lead them across the Jordan River into the Promised Land in order to conquer and take possession of it. Moses told the people first of all that they should be strong and courageous. This is the message that all believers need to hear at the moment when we are about to enter into the Kingdom calling that God has been preparing us for in the Wilderness. Instead of succumbing to fear and cowardice as the Israelites did forty years previously, we should "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong" (I Corinthians 16:13). Second, Moses told the people not to be afraid and not to panic. Like the Israelites, we will have to face the enemies and obstacles that lie in wait in our own personal Promised Land. Every form of Kingdom activity is a struggle against the entrenched forces of evil that possess the land and they must be overcome. These enemies and obstacles are very real, but we must not shrink back in fear of them. Third, Moses told them that the reason why they should be strong, courageous, and fearless is that the Lord would personally go ahead of them. True Kingdom activity is not done in the strength of our own power and might. The Lord Himself will be with us in order to strengthen us, help us, and protect us. As the Psalmist says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you" (Psalm 91:7). Finally, Moses told them that the Lord would not fail or abandon them. The Lord God will not lead us into the Promised Land only to abandon us there and leave us to our own devices. As the Apostle Paul says, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Take the words of Moses to heart, for they apply to you just as much as they did to the ancient Israelites. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 88, 89 Psalm 88 -- O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 89 -- I will sing of the loving kindness of the Lord forever. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 10 Romans 10 -- Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.Insight Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in union with him. This should give us even more assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by him. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of God, not to satisfy Jesus' human desires. Challenge When we follow Jesus, we should have the same purpose. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 9:6 The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.Behold one of the great Physician's mightiest arts: he has power to forgive sin! While here he lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before the blood had been literally sprinkled on the mercy-seat, he had power to forgive sin. Hath he not power to do it now that he hath died? What power must dwell in him who to the utmost farthing has faithfully discharged the debts of his people! He has boundless power now that he has finished transgression and made an end of sin. If ye doubt it, see him rising from the dead! behold him in ascending splendour raised to the right hand of God! Hear him pleading before the eternal Father, pointing to his wounds, urging the merit of his sacred passion! What power to forgive is here! "He hath ascended on high, and received gifts for men." "He is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins." The most crimson sins are removed by the crimson of his blood. At this moment, dear reader, whatever thy sinfulness, Christ has power to pardon, power to pardon thee, and millions such as thou art. A word will speak it. He has nothing more to do to win thy pardon; all the atoning work is done. He can, in answer to thy tears, forgive thy sins today, and make thee know it. He can breathe into thy soul at this very moment a peace with God which passeth all understanding, which shall spring from perfect remission of thy manifold iniquities. Dost thou believe that? I trust thou believest it. Mayst thou experience now the power of Jesus to forgive sin! Waste no time in applying to the Physician of souls, but hasten to him with words like these:-- "Jesus! Master! hear my cry; Save me, heal me with a word; Fainting at thy feet I lie, Thou my whisper'd plaint hast heard." Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.Isaiah 33:5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. Psalm 113:4,7,8 The LORD is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. • He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap, • To make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people. Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, • even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), • and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:32,38,39 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? • For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, • nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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