Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
October 29, 2022
Read Joshua 1:1-9
1 After Moses the LORD’s servant died, the LORD spoke to Joshua, Nun’s son. He had been Moses’ helper. 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross over the Jordan with this entire people to the land that I am going to give to the Israelites. 3 I am giving you every place where you set foot, exactly as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will stretch from the desert and the Lebanon as far as the great Euphrates River, including all Hittite land, up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you during your lifetime. I will be with you in the same way I was with Moses. I won’t desert you or leave you. 6 Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land, which I pledged to give to their ancestors. 7 “Be very brave and strong as you carefully obey all of the Instruction that Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t deviate even a bit from it, either to the right or left. Then you will have success wherever you go. 8 Never stop speaking about this Instruction scroll. Recite it day and night so you can carefully obey everything written in it. Then you will accomplish your objectives and you will succeed. 9 I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Good Morning, Rejoice! This is the day that the Lord has made!
God, our Creator, promises to care for us. All that we must do is follow the commandments that have been given to us. That sounds easy enough, but of course, we know that from the very beginning this has been a challenge. Adam and Eve had everything they needed, but they broke the rule given to them. Now, you could blame this on the serpent, but Eve could have ignored the serpent and everything would have been okay.
We, too, struggle with temptation. Joshua was told to lead the people and follow God’s path without deviation. Again, they had a huge area of land upon which they could settle, but eventually, they too would fail to follow God’s commands and they would become enslaved once again.
Like the Israelites, God provides us with all that we need to live a peaceful life. Like our ancestors before us, we forget, we get busy, we fail to trust, and we begin to stray from God. The Bible includes instructions, but we don’t take the time to read the words of hope and salvation that are available to us. We are drawn to the glittery, easy path that seems to be the way that others are traveling.
We are God’s chosen people and through Christ, we are redeemed. Hallelujah! Amen! Despite our failures, God forgives all who humble themselves and ask for forgiveness. Through the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we have been prepared. We must put on the armor of God: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God so that we can walk and talk a holy path.
God is good. God loves us. Follow the Word and find peace!
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Help us to not skip over the instruction manual. We need Your grace, mercy, and love. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Today I will give attention to my spiritual growth by studying God’s word.
Spend time reading the Word! Pastor Liz
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