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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for August 2015
September 1, 2015
Joshua 8:35 - There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
Thought: I am backtracking a bit here but I overlooked and important thought from Joshua’s reading of the Law of Moses. Notice who is included in the description of those who heard the reading. Even the little ones are mentioned as bring present. Today, many bodies of the Lord’s church are taking children out of the public assembly for “children’s church”. However, there is never an example of the little ones being removed from the public assemblies. In fact, adults are forsaking the assembly in order to go supervise this activity. Our God wants us to all be in the assembly including your children. And what a blessing it is to see young ones experiencing God’s worship.
Hebrews 10:25
September 2, 2015
Joshua 9:7 - And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
Thought: Joshua’s initial reaction to their request was one of hesitation. He recognized they were most likely part of the people Joshua was commanded to destroy. As the conversation continues they convince him that they are from far away and deceive him into an unsanctioned alliance. This account reminds us that God blessed each of us with intuition. Sometimes we just don’t get a good feeling about a situation. Maybe we feel uncomfortable with the circumstance or an individual. But we need to pay attention to that feeling to some degree. The Bible teaches we are to avoid anything we are not doing in full faith. If we doubt something and do it or condone it anyways, we sin against God. Next time you have an uncomfortable feeling about a decision; avoid it until you have proven the situation Biblically sound.
Romans 14:23
September 3, 2015
Joshua 9:14 - And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
Thought: Joshua should have asked for God’s counsel when he felt uneasy about this whole situation. God would have shown him the truth and Joshua could have avoided this evil alliance. How many decisions go south because we forget to ask the Lord’s counsel? While we don’t hear from the Lord verbally as Joshua did, we can still seek His guidance in prayer and find the answers in His holy Word. We can deal with far too much stress and anxiety by forgetting to place our concerns and petitions on Him. In all your decisions be sure to seek His counsel and choose what is most pleasing to Him. We can be certain that if we include God in our decisions our futures will be much brighter.
James 1:5
September 4, 2015
Joshua 9:19 - But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
Thought: Three days after Joshua made a league with these enemies he learned the truth. This league was comprised of four different cities of Canaanites. Interestingly, when Joshua found out he did not recant his league and choose to slay them. Joshua and the princes of Israel stayed true to their word. What a lesson for us about the importance of keeping our word. Even when their promise was found to be at the hands of deception they still kept their word as promised. How serious are we about keeping our word with others? Can we be trusted? Is our speech simply yes and no? Or are we someone who always has to make promises because we break them. Remember that all a man has is his word.
Matthew 5:37
September 5, 2015
Joshua 9:24 - And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
Thought: The men tried to justify their deception to Joshua by describing their fear. While they certainly had a right to be fearful, lying was not the answer. Fear can lead us to make decisions we would not normally make. If someone fears what others might think, he might bend the truth to protect his reputation. If someone fears the consequences of teaching the truth he might tamper with the unadulterated word of God. In Revelation 21:8, Jesus gives a list of those who will suffer in Hell for eternity. The first group of individuals on His list are the fearful. The truth of the matter is that the only one to fear is God. If we claim to fear Him most then let’s be sure we always choose Truth.
Matthew 10:28
September 6, 2015
Joshua 10:2 - That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
Thought: What a blessing to know that our God can make good come out of our mistakes. Joshua should not have made a league with the people of Gibeon, but God made the best of the situation. Adonizedek was very afraid when he found out Gibeon had joined with Israel. Apparently Gibeon was one of the greater cities in the land. Through sinfully joining with Gibeon God was able to use this for His purpose none the less. While it shouldn’t encourage us to do wrong, it certainly encourages us when we are facing our mistakes. When I fail God can make good of any situation. Sometimes we might want to live with guilt and have a hard time picking ourselves back up. But next time you fail, remember Joshua and know that God will forgive you and use it for good.
Gen 50:20
September 7, 2015
Joshua 10:7 - So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
Thought: While Joshua had been forgiven for his sin there were still consequences. Five kings banded together to destroy Gibeon for siding with Israel. When Gibeon called Joshua for aid he answered recognizing he must keep his word. Of course, God was going to see them victorious in the battle. One of the most difficult aspects of sin in this life is dealing with the consequences. We may repent of our mistakes and certainly be forgiven, but that doesn’t mean that the repercussions will cease to exist. Sin can haunt us for a brief time to a life time depending on the sin. This is yet further motivation to resist temptation knowing the effects that may come. Try to always think of the future each day and the effect your decisions will have on that future.
Num 32:23
September 8, 2015
Joshua 10:10 - And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
Thought: Once again numbers meant nothing to God. Not only did God win the battle but He describes it as a “great slaughter”. Have you ever watched a competition of some sort and someone’s score was miles away from the other? God defeated them as bad as one can be defeated. It can be fun to play sports and to be on the winning team. I remember how sad it was to always get picked toward the end and not be on the best team. However, spiritually God chooses us to be on His team, the winning team! This life is a battle between good and evil. One day we will stand before the Judge on the winning side or the losing side. Whose team are you on today?
1 John 5:4
September 9, 2015
Joshua 10:11 - And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
Thought: Israel did have a part to play in the battle, but Joshua makes it clear that the Lord did the majority of the work. God sent stones from the heavens which killed the majority of their enemy. This reminds me of our spiritual victory over sin as we become Christians. God does the majority of the work for us, but we must do our share as well however small it might be. God has defeated the devil, paved the way, and taught it to us through His word. Yet, many reject Him through words and actions. God wants us all to be saved but He did not make us robots. We have the freedom to choose and that decision to turn to Him or from Him is the part we play. Are you doing your part through good deeds or are you denying His invitation through wicked deeds?
Titus 1:16
September 10, 2015
Joshua 10:12 - Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Thought: Joshua prayed for something very special and God answered him in the affirmative. How incredible it is to know that we can ask God for anything and He will not only hear us but answer us. It may not always be the answer we want to hear but we will get a response. He might answer with a “yes” as He did Joshua. He may reject our request knowing it isn’t best or being contrary to His will. He might even decide we need to wait and receive our petition at a later time. No matter what His answer we know that He hears and responds. Are you taking advantage of this privilege as you should?
1 John 5:15
September 11, 2015
Joshua 10:13 - And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Thought: This was arguably the greatest miracle that has been requested of God at this point in history. But for God this was a simply task. Joshua wanted to be sure he decimated his enemies before the darkness came. There is simply no god like our God. How can we neglect Him week after week as we neglect prayer and study? How can we hurt Him day by day with wicked thoughts and actions? Sometimes we need to remember how great He is and allow that to motivate us to serve Him more. The next time the Sun ceases to move it will be time to stand before this great God and be judged for our deeds. What a thought!
Psalm 50:1
September 12, 2015
Joshua 10:16 - But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
Thought: There is always hope for victims and criminals when they can run and hide. We naturally feel less frightened and braver knowing there is a plan of escape. However, these kings were not running from a man, but God. Oftentimes men live their lives as if they can run from consequences or even eternity. But we must remember that judgment will come for every man and escape is not an option. What would happen to the crime rate if criminals knew they could not hide from the law? It seems logical that crime would decrease significantly. Maybe we need to be reminded that there is no escape from God and the consequences for willful sin.
Hebrews 10:31
September 13, 2015
Joshua 10:18 - And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
Thought: The five kings fled from Joshua and ended up hiding in a cave. They may have felt more secure and hopeful their escape plan had worked. Imagine their terror when they see the stone being rolled over the entrance to the cave. They were stuck in the dark and cold helpless to prevent their impending death. This reminds us that we can become so comfortable in sin that it enthralls us and blinds us from the light of the truth. Soul after soul falls away from the light of the Gospel as sin engulfs them in “pleasure”. Some will never come back to the truth because they have allowed their heart to be so hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Don’t let yourself walk into the caves of sin because one day there will be no exit. One day it will be too late and we will be helpless to prevent our impending spiritual death.
Hebrews 3:13
September 14, 2015
Joshua 10:19 - And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.
Thought: Joshua and the people were commanded to take action by pursuing after the enemy. God was not going to allow them to stand by and allow His people to not continue fighting for Him. As we think about the direction our nation is headed, we must not give up on fighting for our God. It is easy to become complacent on topics like abortion that have been going on without hindrance for over forty years. However, we must continue to pray daily and speak out every chance we get to continue fighting for our God’s will. Never give up and stand idly by while the enemy, Satan, is gaining ground daily. If we all sit back and just watch Satan work what will become of this nation and what will it mean for us?
Psa 33:12
September 15, 2015
Joshua 10:21 - And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
Thought: Witnessing Joshua destroy these powerful armies silenced the rest of Canaan from speaking out against God or His people. While there is coming a day when no one will speak out against us again this is certainly not the case today. We live in a generation of increasing persecution from the world around us. It can be discouraging to hear our faith being mocked and to watch Islam continue to infiltrate our nation. However, we must remember that Christ was rejected before we were and that He was persecuted in ways we will never have to endure. We have to remember that we are to take joy in persecution as it reminds us that we must be doing something right. Our faith will grow stronger through these hardships if we continue to fight the good fight, cast our cares upon God, and stay the course. And of course, we have a land of bliss waiting us for all eternity if we remain faithful. Remember, Heaven will surely be worth it all!
John 15:20
September 16, 2015
Joshua 10:25 - And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
Thought: This is a powerful moment for all of Israel. They have defeated the armies of five Canaanite kings and now they have returned to the cave to deal with the kings themselves. Joshua has them bring out the kings and throw them on the ground. They then place their feet on their necks and Joshua tells them that this is what God will do to all their enemies in the future. Today we must also be strong and of good courage when we strive with the enemy daily. It is so easy to get discouraged and feel as though all hope is lost. We must remember the wise adage, “one plus God equals a majority”. God will also decimate our enemies one day if we continue faithfully as His child. Israel soon chose the world over God and were taken captive. What will your decision be?
Psalm 56:4
September 17, 2015
Joshua 10:42 - And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
Thought: King after king and army after army were defeated by Joshua and the people of Israel. God fulfilled His promised over and over again without a single hiccup. Can you imagine how confident they were after winning so many battles? They lost all worry and had full faith in their God. How often do we dwell upon our future and allow ourselves to be anxious over things we don’t even have control over? What does it say about our faith when we allow worry to consume us? Remember how many times God has delivered you from your enemies and allow that to build your faith and confidence. Cast your cares to God and know, truly know, He will see you through.
Phil 4:6
September 18, 2015
Joshua 11:1 - And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
Thought: When king Jabin heard of Israel’s conquest and victories he called every ally he could to join forces with him. Satan has always taken a “numbers” strategy. Mankind has the mentality that the majority always rules and Satan knows it. When they enemy out numbers us we tend to feel fear, intimidation, and begin questioning if we are on the right side. This can happen with conservative beliefs as much as it can with war. Whenever we feel like we are the minority, or begin questioning our beliefs due to their unpopularity, remember Joshua and Israel. Whose side was the winning side then? Whose side is the winning side now?
Matt 7:14
September 19, 2015
Joshua 11:9 - And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
Thought: Notice that the victories God gave Joshua and the people were conditionally connected to their obedience. God fulfills all His promises without fail, but we may not always keep our end of the deal. We can’t expect God to make every day seamless when we constantly sin against Him. Even His sinless Son did not live life without daily persecution and difficult circumstances. Many seem to blame God for their earthly woes, but He is not to blame. The victory doesn’t come in this life but the next. We must remain faithful to God for this short lifetime and then God will certainly give us the victory in eternity. The next time you have a difficult day let it remind you that there is coming a time when every day will be peace and rest. Once again we are reminded that Heaven will surely be worth it all.
Heb 4:9
September 20, 2015
Joshua 11:15 - As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
Thought: Joshua not only avoided doing that which God had commanded him to avoid, but he made sure to do everything God expected of him. Our minds can easily convince us that we are right with God and even growing spiritually when we avoid committing willful sin. However, avoiding doing wrong is only half of God’s will. We must also be doing good works in His name. We recall that there are sins of commission and sins of omission. If we choose to avoid doing wrong but also to avoid using our talents for God then we are no better off spiritually. We must strive to not only avoid sinful activities but to replace them with Godly ones.
James 4:17
September 21, 2015
Joshua 13:1 - Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
Thought: Joshua was getting older and there was potentially the temptation to “retire”. But God was not finished with him yet. We must always remember that while we have breath in our lungs there is something we can do. Retiring from our earthly work is a blessing that happens in this lifetime. Retiring spiritually, however, does not occur until we leave this life. Age may hinder us from being as active as we once were, but we must never allow ourselves to retire from spiritual things. Even if we become shut in or bed ridden we can still be praying to God, maybe writing to folks, encouraging those we contact who visit us, studying God’s word, and much more. Let’s always continue to be instruments in God’s hand no matter what may come our way.
Jeremiah 29:11
September 22, 2015
Joshua 13:14 - Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Thought: The Levites did not receive an inheritance of land or possessions like the other tribes of Israel. Their reward as being priests of God was more than enough. They were blessed to be able to personally serve God in ways no other Israelite could. What a great thought as we realize we are New Testament priests. Christians today serve God as the priests of old but, of course, under a better covenant. Next time we wonder what God has given us, aside from the necessities of life, remember what a blessing it is to serve Him as only a Christian can! Now, are we going to take advantage of this blessing as we should today?
1 Peter 2:5
September 23, 2015
Joshua 14:7 - Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Thought: Caleb reminds Joshua of the report he gave to Moses over forty years ago when he spied out the land of Canaan. This reminds us of the wicked report the other ten gave out of fear. There is a great lesson to be learned in the power of negativity. When that negative report came it overpowered the positive report and the people began to fear and complain. This was the final straw that caused them all to perish during the forty years in the wilderness. We must always remember how contagious our attitudes can be. As we go about this week consider the attitude you embody as you spend time with others. Is your attitude promoting positive thinking and joy or is it promoting negativity and sucking the joy out of the hearers?
Numbers 13:30
September 24, 2015
Joshua 14:11 - As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Thought: Caleb tells Joshua that he is as strong at 85 years old as he was at 40 when he gave the positive report of the land. His goal is to convince Joshua to allow him to keep this mountain for his inheritance but also to continue assigning Caleb work to further God’s kingdom in Israel as he is not useless in his age. How wonderful it is when brethren go to their leaders looking for work in order to spread God’s kingdom. In order for churches to have programs they need workers. In order for churches to grow they need workers. However, often volunteers can be scare. We desire the work to be done but we do not want to be the ones to do it. Are you laboring in the Lord’s body as you should in your local congregation? Could you do more for the Lord and His people? Walk up to one of your elders the next opportunity you have and ask them what you can do to help the work! This will be an encouragement for them and a blessing for you as you labor to further God’s kingdom here on Earth.
Isaiah 6:8
September 25, 2015
Joshua 15:17 - And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
Thought: Caleb desired someone to defeat Kirjathsepher for him. He made a pledge that whoever completed the task would wed his daughter. Interestingly, it was Othniel who became her husband. This same Othniel became Israel’s first judge to deliver God’s people from oppression. How often we realize what a small world we live in. We pray that God will bless our children with good spouses. We hope that we will run into good people from day to day and not the wicked. God is so good to providentially place people in our lives for our benefit. In the words of the Hebrew writer, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”.
Hebrews 13:1
September 26, 2015
Joshua 16:10 - And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Thought: God made it clear to Israel that they were to remove all the Canaanites from the land. However, we see in this passage, and many more upcoming, that the tribes did not force out the people of the land fully as God desired. In fact, the book of Judges is all about the oppression of the people for not obeying God. Their mingling with the Canaanites caused ungodly marriages and friendships resulting in Israel’s apostasy time and time again. Israel would not learn their lesson, but what about you? Are there influences in your life you know you need to get rid of? Are your friends leading you closer to God or farther away? Let’s not make the same mistake today in thinking we are too strong to be pulled away by this world.
1 Corinthians 10:12
September 27, 2015
Joshua 17:15 - And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
Thought: The children of Joseph complained to Joshua because they received only one portion of land for an inheritance when others had received much more. Their argument focused upon how great a people they had become. Joshua’s response makes a great application for us today. They were told to get to work cutting down trees so they would have more space. Sometimes we might be envious of the work that has fallen upon others hands in the Lord’s body. Maybe we view certain works greater than others and we might be tempted to complain to the elders. Instead, why don’t we take the work we have been given and put everything we have into it? While we are busy wishing we had another’s work we are neglecting to do the best job we can with the work we have been assigned. Simply put, let’s make the most of what God gives us and then He may bless us with more as He sees fit!
Matthew 25:28
September 28, 2015
Joshua 17:16 - And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
Thought: We may ponder how ungrateful the children of Joseph were to complain about their allotment of land. But are we any better when we often complain about our possessions, relationships, time, and other various parts of our lives? Sometimes we don’t realize what we have until we lose it or until things get worse. As Christians our outlook on life should be different than the world. Our riches are not based upon what we have or who we know. Our riches are in Christ Jesus and every moment we are more blessed than we could ever deserve. Don’t let Satan convince you there is a legitimate reason to complain. Focus on all the good in your life that comes daily from God.
Ephesians 1:3
September 29, 2015
Joshua 18:2 - And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
Thought: For several chapters the Bible discusses each tribe’s inheritance of land and how they came to obtain it. While it may seem a bit slow to read through there is a great application to be made. Christians have an inheritance waiting for us in Heaven at the end of this world. We have an inheritance that is equal to the inheritance Christ received when He was glorified with God. How can we even fathom or begin to understand how God could love us this much? If we die faithful to Christ we will receive an equal inheritance as our Lord’s join heirs. Let’s chew on that thought today!
Romans 8:17
September 30, 2015
Joshua 18:3 - And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
Thought: Seven tribes had not yet received their inheritance and apparently showed no eagerness to possess their newly inherited land. This reminds me of our brethren who are apathetic towards the kingdom of God. They show no eagerness to “possess their inheritance” in Heaven. They are rarely seen at services or never seen outside of services. They are neither involved in the work of the church nor available to be counted on when needed. How eager can we really be to get to Heaven when we show no desire to fight in order to be there? How hard we work to finish the race is based on what’s at the finish line. Let’s remember that Heaven is at the finish line and make sure we live our lives in a way that shows our eagerness to be there!
2 Corinthians 5:2
Read devotionals for October 2015