Joshua 4 - 10.14.24
Scripture
Joshua 4:6-7 NLT
“We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”
Observation
The Lord had just helped the people of Israel cross the Jordan River by stopping the river from flowing. God had given the Israelites a dry path to walk through so they could get to the Promised Land. God then instructs Joshua to assign 12 men, (one from each tribe), to carry 12 stones out of the Jordan, and use them to build a memorial where they would be setting up camp. These stones, this memorial, would be used to remind the future generations to come, just how great and mighty their God was/is. It will remind them just how faithful God was to His people.
Application
What “stones/memorials” do we have in our personal life that we can share with our family so they can know of God’s awesome power, love, and faithfulness for generations to come? 🤔
Well it has to start with Jesus.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”-John 3:16
Jesus is my rock that I lean on. Jesus is my salvation. Jesus is my comforter and healer. Jesus is my provider. Jesus is my Heavenly Father, and friend. Without Him in my life, I am lost. I am nothing. Just like Joshua’s job from God was to build that memorial made of stones; to help remind the people of Israel, and the future generations of God’s power and faithfulness, my job is to share with my friends and family about Jesus; to let them know what Jesus has done for me; to make sure that Jesus’ story carries on for generations to come. All glory and honor belong to Him! 🙌🏽
Prayer
Thank You Jesus for being part of my life and blessing me with the family that I have. Thank You for blessing me with a wife and two daughters who also believe in You. May we all have these “rocks and memorials” in our lives to share with others about Your great might and love for us. May we often be reminded of it each and every day. May it carry on for generations to come. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Joshua 1 - 10.11.2024
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Joshua 1:5-6
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
The entire nation of Israel was in the midst of a huge transition. There had been a recent change in leadership (Moses passing away led to Joshua taking the helm). The nation was on the precipice of claiming the promised land. Men were about to go to war. Land was already being claimed and divided. I think about those circumstances Lord, and I think about Joshua, and I have a hard time imagining how anyone could do this without You.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
Oftentimes, I have felt like a leaf in the wind, controlled by forces completely outside of me. I used to abhor the thought of being compelled like that. It meant my life wasn’t mine to live. It meant that I was boxed in. And living in a box was the ultimate hell on earth.
I am so grateful that I found You, Lord. I am so grateful that living with You has never made me feel boxed in.
As I hear Your words spoken to Joshua this morning I desire the same blessing over my family’s life, over my own.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
May your will be done in my life and my family’s lives, oh Lord my God. Just as you blessed Joshua and the nation of Israel as they prepared to inherit the land you promised unto them, I pray that you will not leave or forsake me or my family, even the ones who figuratively choose not to cross over the Jordan river. I pray this over my extended family of Christ followers, Lord. I pray that no one will be able to stand against us those who chose Christ, for the rest of the days of our lives. I pray that you will be with us. I pray that we are all strong and courageous, as we continue to live our lives in the promise, in the promise that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee
Romans 3 - 10.10.24
Romans 3:23-24
S – 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
O – In this chapter Paul contends that EVERYONE stands guilty before God. But if we believe in Him, it doesn’t end there. Being justified means declared “not guilty.” Even though one sin may seem bigger in our eyes then another (i.e. murder vs. adultery), every sin results in death, because sin cuts us off from God. We should not minimize what we feel are “little” sins, nor should we overrate “big” sins. They all separate us from God, but because Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying a terrible death on the cross, we get to be declared not guilty and saved by God’s grace. Many religions have rules and specific duties to perform to make a person acceptable to God. Christianity is unique in teaching that the good deeds we do will not make us right with God. They are important, but not what redeems us in God’s eyes.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
A – Let’s face it, no matter how many quiches and pasta salads I make for people, that will not get me into Heaven! Taking care of others is born out of a love for God and wanting to be more like Him….more loving, more giving, more patient, more compassionate, more gentle and kind. So to me, Romans 3:23-24, is just the whole enchilada! (I must be hungry). We are all sinners and only through believing that Christ died for our sins can we have eternal life….The End! Sort of. Once we are saved, then comes the really getting to know God, really working on becoming more and more like Jesus each day. That may be one minor change at a time: one food delivery, one Bible chapter read, one ride to the doctor, getting up for Sunday service instead of sleeping in, or one $20 bill to the homeless guy. But hopefully we are always making little changes daily that will cause us to grow more like Jesus, the only one who led a perfect, sinless life.
Luke 9:23-24 - If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
I still think we forget that it is this simple sometimes. I am always baffled when I see Christians targeting homosexual behavior by marching with signs, calling people horrible names and telling them they are going to hell. Where is the Godly love in that?! Or when we judge another person’s addictions and yet we are gossiping behind their back. Perhaps we’re appalled at people who walk into a store and steal something, yet we’ll talk on the phone for 2 hours at our job (stealing time and money). Not me pastor! LOL Or maybe we are judging that mom who screams at her kid in the middle of Wal Mart and then walking over to the check-out berating the cashier for making a mistake. Whatever it is, we are ALL guilty of sin…the little, the big, the bad and the ugly. We’d be wise to ask God to forgive us each and every day for those transgressions and help us to remember that we ALL deserve death. And thankfully as Christians that is NOT the end!
P – Lord, I thank you that you really have made Christianity as simple for us as can be. We don’t have to jump through hoops to be loved by you. We don’t have to have a perfect life, or have it all together to have a relationship with you. Thank you that you know all of my imperfect and sinful ways, and you still want to partner with me to bring others to know you and your glory. Help my life reveal to others that you can take the most wretched and defiled individuals and make them whole again. Help me to show those I love and those I have connections with to know that you have a plan and purpose for each of them. Thank you that someday I will have a place in eternity, and for no work that I ever did, but only because I believed in you! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
- Crystal Flory