Bible League: Living His Word So the sun did not move, and the moon stopped until the people defeated their enemies.Joshua and the Israelite army had been called to the city of Gibeon in order to save their Gibeonite servants from the hand of the Amorite coalition that surrounded the city. The Lord gave the Israelites a great victory and they chased after the fleeing remnant of the Amorite armies. They must have been running out of daylight, however, because Joshua said to the Lord, "Sun, stop over Gibeon. Moon, stand still over the valley of Aijalon" (Joshua 10:12). And as our verse for today makes clear, the sun and the moon did stop on their courses through the heavens until the conquest was completed. When we read this Old Testament story we are reminded of something Jesus said at the dawn of New Testament times. He said, "Have faith in God. The truth is, you can say to this mountain, 'Go, mountain, fall into the sea.' And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you" (Mark 11:22-23). Miracles like the one that happened with Joshua, therefore, should not be thought of as limited to the distant past. Instead, they should be thought of as a legitimate part of the present life we have in Christ. After all, it was Jesus Himself who said we would do even greater miracles than the ones He performed (John 14:12). If a person is walking in the will of God and in the Spirit of Christ Jesus, then amazing things can happen. The faith we have been given by God can rise up within us and speak the word that will remove whatever obstacles are standing in the way of God's will and purpose for our lives. The word spoken in faith can even alter the heavens and move mountains. There isn't anything that can thwart the purpose of the Lord when He decides to move through the faith of His servants. You are on your own personal journey on behalf of the Lord God of heaven and earth. There are enemies, like the Amorites for the Israelites, and obstacles, like the sun and moon for Joshua, but the faith God has given you can rise up like it did for Joshua and speak the word that will change everything. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 1, 2 Proverbs 1 -- The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 2 -- Receive my words, and store up my commandments within you; NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 12 1 Corinthians 12 -- Spiritual Gifts; One Body Made Up of Many Parts NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.Insight Recognizing the other believers as brothers and sisters in the family of God, the Christians in Jerusalem shared all they had so that all could benefit from God's gifts. Challenge It is tempting—especially if we have material wealth—to cut ourselves off from one another, each taking care of his or her own interests, each providing for and enjoying his or her own little piece of the world. But as part of God's spiritual family, it is our responsibility to help one another in every way possible. God's family works best when its members work together. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 4:48 Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.A craving after marvels was a symptom of the sickly state of men's minds in our Lord's day; they refused solid nourishment, and pined after mere wonder. The gospel which they so greatly needed they would not have; the miracles which Jesus did not always choose to give they eagerly demanded. Many nowadays must see signs and wonders, or they will not believe. Some have said in their heart, "I must feel deep horror of soul, or I never will believe in Jesus." But what if you never should feel it, as probably you never may? Will you go to hell out of spite against God, because he will not treat you like another? One has said to himself, "If I had a dream, or if I could feel a sudden shock of I know not what, then I would believe." Thus you undeserving mortals dream that my Lord is to be dictated to by you! You are beggars at his gate, asking for mercy, and you must needs draw up rules and regulations as to how he shall give that mercy. Think you that he will submit to this? My Master is of a generous spirit, but he has a right royal heart, he spurns all dictation, and maintains his sovereignty of action. Why, dear reader, if such be your case, do you crave for signs and wonders? Is not the gospel its own sign and wonder? Is not this a miracle of miracles, that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish"? Surely that precious word, "Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely" and that solemn promise, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out," are better than signs and wonders! A truthful Saviour ought to be believed. He is truth itself. Why will you ask proof of the veracity of One who cannot lie? The devils themselves declared him to be the Son of God; will you mistrust him? Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.Isaiah 57:20,21 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. • "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Hebrews 4:10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. Ephesians 4:14,15 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; • but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 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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