Bible Pathways - Mar. 13, 2008
March 13
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Moses is dead! Who can qualify to lead this great multitude? Want to know how to have a prosperous and successful life? The key is clearly stated in Chapter One. God can use anyone, as we see with Rahab the harlot who rescues the spies and eventually ends up in the Messianic line!
Joshua was born into Egyptian slavery but, during the desert trials, he became a coworker with Moses. Joshua's faith in God and His promises almost caused him to be stoned to death when he urged the nation to advance into Canaan about forty years earlier (Numbers 14:6-10). Now the Lord spoke to him: Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them. . . . I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. . . . Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid . . . for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:2,5,9).
To be brought out of Egypt was one thing, but it was altogether another thing to go over this Jordan (1:2) and, thus, become committed to battle against the powerful Canaanites with their chariots of iron, walled cities, and armies of giants. The same crisis comes to all of the redeemed. There must be once and for all an abandonment of self to the will of God — making Him Lord of our lives so that, from that point on, the will of God is first in every decision.
Jordan must be crossed by all of us. Jesus must die once for all sin and by His death we may receive Him as our Savior. Henceforth, by virtue of His atonement, sin has no more dominion over us, and under His leadership we can, by faith, defeat the spiritual enemies of lust, hate, jealousy, and fear. We must follow Him through the Jordan River; that is, we too must die to sin and rise again unto righteousness. The river separates the wilderness from the promised land and is an eternal boundary between our condition by nature and our condition by grace. The waters of Jordan are likened by some to the waters of baptism, whereby we who have been baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. . . . that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). By the power of God alone we are changed from wanderers and outcasts into the covenant people of God when we present our bodies a living sacrifice. . . . not conformed to this world (12:1-2).
Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Thought for Today:
“World-changing” Christians hold nothing back from God. They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11).
Christ Revealed:
Through the scarlet line in the window that saved Rahab and her household — symbolic of the blood of Christ (Joshua 2:21; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7).
Word Studies:
1:4 the wilderness =b> the Sinai desert; Great Sea =b> Mediterranean Sea; coast =b> territorial boundary; 1:11 victuals =b> food; 2:20 quit =b> no longer bound.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts sponsored by Thursday Morning Prayer • Staff: Karen Hawkins • Government Official: Gov. John Hoeven (ND) • Country: Germany (82 million) in north-central Europe • Major language: German • Religious freedom • 33.8% Evangelical (Lutheran); 33.6% Catholic; 3.4% Muslim; 1% Orthodox; 1% Other Christian; .2% Other; 27% None • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to forgive you of all ill will, grudges, or hatred you may hold in your heart toward another person (Matthew 6:14-15).
Optional Reading: John 4
Memory Verse for the Week: I Peter 1:15
