Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+002

 

Romans 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸ and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹ and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. ²⁴ For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

²⁵ For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ²⁶ So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? ²⁷ Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. ²⁸ For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹ But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

 

REFLECTION

• In our day, cans and bottles have labels on them to indicate what is inside. “Circumcision” was a label, and implied that the Jew was obedient to God. However, if he was not completely obedient, the label was not only worthless but misleading. The contents of the can are more important than the label. Similarly, if a Gentile was completely obedient to God, the absence of the label of circumcision was not of major consequence. The Jews had put more emphasis on the presence of the label than on the contents of the can! Paul’s point was that disobedience brings condemnation, and perfect obedience theoretically brings salvation, regardless of whether one is a Jew or a Gentile.
• In this passage, Paul is pointing his fingers at the hypocritical Jews. His point was that perfect obedience is more important that religious privilege. The Jews bragged about their being in God’s covenant.  They knew God’s will and even approved of it.  But they didn’t do God’s will. They were guilty of failing God inwardly, as were the Gentiles. Actually a God-fearing Gentile was more pleasing to God than a disobedient Jew, because God delights in obedience.
• What about you?  When was the last time you said or taught one thing yet acted quite differently? Could Paul also be pointing fingers at you?  How does this realization affect you?

 
PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, today Paul’s rebuke of the hypocritical Jews has alerted me and deeply caused me to reflect. I pray that You strengthen my heart and walk with me each day, so that I may not fall into the snare of the devil. I am fully aware that the human heart is not only proud but also deceitful. I aspire to do good and strive to follow Your path, imitating Your life. However, I often fail due to my own weakness and the temptations of the devil. Furthermore, I tend to cover up my weaknesses and offenses, unwilling to confront my own ugliness and shortcomings. Lord Jesus, today I come to You with a repentant heart, confessing my sins and asking for Your mercy upon my weaknesses and forgiveness for my offenses. I pray that You grant me deeper reverence and greater faith, so that I may be like a pine tree in winter, unafraid of the cold and standing tall and green, living a steadfast and holy life. Lord, I desire to be an unwavering disciple of Yours, and I ask that You continually cultivate in me the virtues that a disciple should possess, making them the “label” of my life, so that I may be a good witness for You in this world. Amen!
 
HYMN

Change My Heart Oh God – youtu.be/cUjUvoynGMM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Romans+001

 

Romans

Introduction

This letter was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome about A.D. 57. The theme of the letter is righteousness. Despite man’s sin, Paul showed that God declares those who believe in Jesus both innocent and right with Him. Even more, through the Holy Spirit that Christ gives, God works within to enable believers to actually live righteous lives, individually and as a redeemed community.

Romans is perhaps the most powerful Christian document ever written. Towering figures like Luther and Wesley trace their conversions to this book. Any Christian can deepen his appreciation of all God has given us in Christ by a careful study of Romans. And every Christian can discover here the source of that spiritual power man needs to live a life that glorifies the Saviour.

 

Outline of Contents

1. Introduction (Rom 1:1-17)
2. Righteousness: Man’s Great Need (Rom 1:18-3:20)
3. Righteousness as God’s Gift (Rom 3:21-5:21)
4. Righteous Living Today (Rom 6 – 8)
5. Righteousness in History (Rom 9 – 11)
6. Righteousness in Community (Rom 12-16)

 

Romans 1 English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ² which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,³ concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴ and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ⁶ including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

⁷ To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Longing to Go to Rome

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. ⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you ¹⁰ always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. ¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—¹² that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵ So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

 

REFLECTION

• Read this passage a couple of times slowly. Imagine you were Paul writing this letter. What was Paul’s feeling toward the believers in Rome? And his attitude about spreading the gospel?
• Pause and reflect. How did the Holy Spirit touch you through this passage?
• Do you share Paul’s excitement and passion about the gospel? Whom among your friends do you have the greatest opportunity of reaching with the gospel? What steps can you take to reach them?

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You are my Savior and the Lord of my life. You are the true light that shines upon all people in this world! You have declared Yourself to be the way, the truth, and the life. Without You, no one can come to the Father. In heaven and on earth, there is no other salvation given. Your Gospel is the power of God to save all who believe. Regardless of who they are or what they have done before, if they believe in Your salvation, sincerely repent and turn to You, they will receive the eternal blessings of life! Lord Jesus, I pray that You grant me the zeal of Paul, to wholeheartedly proclaim Your Gospel in this world, so that more people may receive this greatest blessing. Strengthen my faith continually in the process of spreading Your Gospel, so that I may live a holy life in You, filled with good deeds that reflect my faith, and be a wonderful witness for You in this world. I desire to be Your faithful disciple, learning Your selfless love, and carrying my cross daily to follow You. Walk with me, guide my path, and shape my life. Amen!

 

HYMN

Let Your Glory Fall – youtu.be/UnnHSxW3N0w

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+024

 
Joshua Chapter 24 (ESV)
Choose Whom You Will Serve
¹⁴ “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, ¹⁷ for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. ¹⁸ And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

Joshua’s Death and Burial

²⁹ After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. ³⁰ And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.

³¹ Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.

 

REFLECTION:

• Joshua gave his people the choice to serve the God who had chosen, liberated, and provided for them or to fall back into worship of the false gods of their ancestors on the side of the Euphrates before God called Abraham. In v15, Joshua declared his intention to serve the Lord and told the people to choose whom they would serve. This choice is the one for us as well; we must “choose this day whom we will serve”. If not for the grace of God, we wouldn’t have the change we have today. If we choose false gods, we will regress and return to our former state.
• Meditate on the phrase, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” What does it mean for a family to “serve the Lord”? Where should we begin? When? How? Use the song today as your response to God’s calling you through Joshua.

 

PRAYER: 

Heavenly Father, You are a holy God, a God who abhors all sin and unrighteousness. You are also a loving God, abundant in grace and abundant in mercy! Though I often find myself trapped in sin and transgressions, I deeply understand that You will not despise a contrite and repentant spirit. If I acknowledge my sins, You are faithful and just, and You will forgive my sins. Heavenly Father, at this very moment, I wholeheartedly confess my sins and repent. I ask You to remove the worldly desires and pride from my heart. Break the idols within me and help me to serve You wholeheartedly and rely on You throughout my life! Please guard my thoughts and intentions, so that I may not misuse the precious gift of free will You have given me. Help me to avoid choosing false gods that lead to destruction. Instead, let me choose to draw near to You and be a faithful witness for You in this world, and in the future, receive eternal blessings and joy in heaven. O God, You are my portion, You are my inheritance! I desire to declare my commitment to You, just as Joshua did. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord! Amen!

 

HYMN:

We will serve the Lord – youtu.be/4Fic8YTiUsQ

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+023
 

Joshua Chapter 23 (ESV)

Joshua’s Charge to Israel’s Leaders

¹ A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, ² Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years. ³ And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. ⁴ Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. ⁵ The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. ⁶ Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, ⁷ that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, ⁸ but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. ⁹ For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. ¹⁰ One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. ¹¹ Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. ¹² For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, ¹³ know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

¹⁴ “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. ¹⁵ But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, ¹⁶ if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”

 

REFLECTION:

• Once again, Joshua called the nation in his farewell speech to keep the law, just as he too was challenged in his commissioning service (1:7-9).
• God has promised Joshua, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you” (1:5). Joshua confirmed it in this passage, “One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as He promised you” (v10). The presence of God had made such a powerful difference that even the weakest of the Israelites seemed to be an unmatched hero.

 

PRAYER:

Glorious Father God, Almighty and Victorious Lord, I thank and praise You! Today, through the dying command of Joshua, You once again remind me that You are a faithful God, and Your words never fall void! Heavenly Father, I ask that You make me strong and courageous, and use me mightily in this world where Satan reigns, so that I may fight the good fight for You throughout my life, just as Joshua did. My faith and abilities are far inferior to Joshua’s, but I am willing to obey Your will. Whether it is something significant or trivial, if it is what You call me to do, I am willing to do it courageously. For I firmly believe that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Just as You were with Joshua in the past, fighting for the Israelites, today You will also be with me in the same way! If I live and act according to Your will, You will grant me the strength to face any challenge. Heavenly Father, I am inherently weak, but with Your presence, I can become an unstoppable warrior for You. Increase my faith and let me shine like a bright light in this crooked and absurd generation, revealing the path of Your life. Amen!

 

HYMN:

God Is the Strength of My Heart – youtu.be/gRxROW_h4JM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+022

 
Joshua Chapter 22 (ESV)

²¹ Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, ²² “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today ²³ for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. ²⁴ No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? ²⁵ For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord.²⁶ Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, ²⁷ but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.”’ ²⁸ And we thought, ‘If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, “Behold, the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.”’ ²⁹ Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!”

³⁰ When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their eyes. ³¹ And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is in our midst, because you have not committed this breach of faith against the Lord. Now you have delivered the people of Israel from the hand of the Lord.”

³² Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. ³³ And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. ³⁴ The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

 

REFLECTION:

• The tribes which had been given land on the east side of the Jordan had fulfilled their commitment to the rest of Israel. They had entered the Promised Land and fought with rest tribes. Now it was time for them to return to their own homes. But since the Israelites would be living on both sides of the river, the Jordan Rift Valley became a natural barrier which hindered the unity of the twelve tribes.
• When the returning tribes built an altar by the Jordan, their brothers interpreted it as an act of rebellion against the Lord, and they were ready to go to war rather than risk divine punishment (vv19-20).
• The eastern tribes then explained their reason for building the altar was to be a memorial.  This explanation was accepted by the western tribes. A potential conflict and division was resolved.
• It is easy to misunderstand another person’s actions. Both groups acted wisely. The western tribes decided to talk before acting. The easterners didn’t take offense, but instead humbly explained what they had done.
• It’s good to remember that before we accuse, we need to go to the persons involved and talk about what has happened. And if anyone misunderstands an act of ours, rather than be upset, we need to be humble and willing to explain.

 

PRAYER: 

Compassionate and merciful Father God, today’s scripture has led me to reflect on how prideful and weak we are as human beings. We think highly of ourselves, with stubbornness and rebellion in our hearts. We judge others and are judged by them in return. We each go our own way, often causing misunderstandings among ourselves. Heavenly Father, I ask for Your forgiveness for my offenses and grant me a humble and wise heart that enables me to examine the darkness within myself and empathize with the weaknesses of others. I desire to learn from the spirit of reconciliation displayed by the people of Israel in the past, where they humbly and wisely resolved conflicts among themselves. I seek clarity and resolution to the misunderstandings that have arisen between me, my family, and my brothers and sisters today. Whether I am participating in worship or serving in a small group, Heavenly Father, please help me examine my own heart. If I have grievances against someone, remind me to seek an opportunity for reconciliation with him/her before returning to worship and serve You. For if I cherish sin in my heart, You will not listen, but You truly hear my cry and listen to the sound of my prayer! You are worthy of praise because You have answered my prayer, and Your love has not departed from me. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Search My Heart – youtu.be/6JAuy9ZCuDI

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+021

 

Joshua Chapter 21 (ESV)

⁴¹ The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasturelands. ⁴² These cities each had its pasturelands around it. So it was with all these cities.

⁴³ Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. ⁴⁴ And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. ⁴⁵ Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

 

REFLECTION:

• This passage concludes the first two main sections of the book, the conquest and the division of the land. God had proven Himself the faithful God who had not forgotten any of the promises made to the patriarchs or Moses. Moreover, God had also given the people “rest on every side” (v44). In principle, everything promised had come to pass.
• God has accomplished all that He has promised the Israelites in bringing them in the Promised Land. Do you think God always do what He promised? What promises of God do you have?
• How does faith differ from wishful thinking? Why should we expect God to answer our prayers, to provide us with food and clothing, or to be involved in jobs or family? How do we know our faith isn’t simply foolishness?
• Scripture tells us that true faith must be grounded in God’s promises. If God has promised to do something, then we can trust Him wholeheartedly. If He has not promised to do something, then all the faith in the world won’t make it happen.

 

PRAYER:
Loving and faithful Heavenly Father, Your words never fail. From eternity to eternity, Your promises remain unchanged! Just as You blessed the people of Israel and led them into a land flowing with milk and honey, bringing peace to their borders, I pray that You would also bless us, Your children who have taken refuge in You. We often experience hardships, weaknesses, and pain in this world, but Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, has overcome the world. In Christ, You have promised us heavenly peace and the eternal blessings of life. Heavenly Father, strengthen my faith and establish it firmly on Your promises. Holy and righteous Spirit, You are the seal of my present grace and the guarantee of my future inheritance. I ask for Your help to open the eyes of my spirit so that I may see the unchanging love of the Heavenly Father. O God, besides You, there is no one in heaven I desire. Apart from You, there is nothing on earth that I long for. Though my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Psalm 73 Song “Whom Have I in Heaven but You?” – youtu.be/qN91ZTTG8Ig

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+020

 

Joshua Chapter 20 (ESV)

The Cities of Refuge

¹ Then the Lord said to Joshua, ² “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, ³ that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. ⁴ He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. ⁵ And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. ⁶ And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’”

⁷ So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.⁸ And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.

 

REFLECTION:

• The punishments for criminals under the laws of Moses take into consideration the motive behind the crime. If someone unintentionally commits manslaughter, they can flee to any one of the six cities of refuge to seek asylum. They must reside in that city until the death of the high priest at that time, after which they are granted forgiveness and can leave (v6). Subsequently, people cannot seek revenge against them for the previous crime of murder. The life of the high priest foreshadows the future sacrificial offering of Christ for sinners because true reconciliation can only be achieved after the debt of sin is paid in full.
• Where do you go (or to whom do you turn) when you feel in danger?
• In what way could your church be like a city of refuge for the needy?

 

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, You are a gracious and just God. You are my refuge, my fortress, my rock, my stronghold, my high tower, and my shield! I desire to take refuge in You all my life, and I pray that I may never be put to shame. When I find myself in distress with nowhere to turn, I ask that You, in Your righteousness, rescue me. When my spirit is weary, my eyes are dim, and my ears are heavy, I pray that You, for the sake of Your name, guide me and instruct me! Deliver me from the snares set by the enemy, for You are my security. I want to dwell under the shadow of Your wings all my life, and I long to dwell in Your presence. May Your grace and mercy surround me throughout my life! Heavenly Father, I confess that I am weak and have little faith. I often stumble, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Though I am fully aware that drawing near to You is beneficial for me, my heart is often enticed by the allure of the world. My spirit is constantly harassed by the enemy, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour me! May Your church become a “refuge city” established by You for me and my brothers and sisters today. May we abide in this “refuge city,” watching over and supporting one another, experiencing heavenly peace and joy! Because You have forgiven our sins, strengthened our faith, deepened our wisdom, increased our courage, and shattered all the cunning schemes of the devil. Amen!

 

HYMN:

God Is My Refuge – youtu.be/CbHWjwJ9d-I

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+019

 

Joshua Chapter 19 (ESV)

The Inheritance for Joshua

⁴⁹ When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. ⁵⁰ By command of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.

⁵¹ These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

 

REFLECTION:

• Finally with victories won and the land divided, Joshua settled down on his own inheritance. However, Joshua’s retirement wasn’t simply a well-merited reward for his decades of exemplary service. He was retired, also, for the benefit of Israel!
• When the Manasseh needed more land (ch 17), they hurried to Joshua and complained. Joshua wisely told them “You can drive them out”. It was time for Israel to stop depending on Joshua and to step out on their own. Manasseh, and all the other tribes, needed to trust God for themselves.
• There comes a time when each of us needs to step down and tell those we have nurtured, “You can do it. It’s time that I retire. And time to learn what God can do for and through you.”
• In what relationships do you need to retire and let others be responsible for themselves?

 

PRAYER:

Today, O Lord, I yield myself to You. May Your will be my delight today.
May You have perfect sway in me. May your love be the pattern of my living.
I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions.
Do with them what You will, when You will, as You will.
I place into Your loving care my family, my friends, my future.
Care for them with a care that I can never give.
I release into Your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscurity.
Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish Your Kingdom on earth.
For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

(A Prayer of Surrender by Richard Foster)

 

HYMN:

Your Will Be Done – youtu.be/CWqRRNxweeM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+018

 

Joshua Chapter 18 (ESV)

Allotment of the Remaining Land

¹ Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.

² There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. ³ So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you? ⁴ Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. ⁵ They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north. ⁶ And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. ⁷ The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

⁸ So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” ⁹ So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh, ¹⁰ and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.

 

REFLECTION:

• Read this passage slowly understanding the progress of the takeover of the Promised Land by the Israelites.
• Joshua has led the people of a series of successful conquest. Each tribe was then responsible to conquer and colonize its designated territory.
• Five tribes have been settled on land on either side of the Jordan River. Joshua in this passage rebuked the remaining tribes for their procrastination in failing to act as they had been instructed (v3).
• What in your life have you begun but never finished? What will it take to get you going?

 

PRAYER:

Gracious and Almighty Heavenly Father, I give all praise and glory to You. Even if my heart praises You a thousand times and my mouth thanks You ten thousand times, it still cannot express the depth of my gratitude to You. You are the eternal and everlasting God, the Alpha and the Omega. You not only created the beautiful universe, giving us the precious breath of life, but You also gave us Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, You accomplished a priceless and boundless salvation, reconciling us to You and making us Your children, destined for eternal life in Your glory. You also guide us in our earthly lives, causing our lives to be like lilies of the field that grow out of the soil, enduring storms and continually blossoming into pure and fragrant flowers, manifesting Your heavenly glory to attract all people to come to You. Heavenly Father, there is nothing impossible for You. I pray that You walk with me every day, leading me to follow my Lord Jesus Christ and live a holy life, so that my life may increasingly emit the fragrance of Christ. You are the author and perfecter of my faith, and I firmly believe that You have begun a good work in my heart, and You will continue to complete Your work, enabling me to fulfill Your good purposes. Amen!

 
HYMN:

He Who Began a Good Work in You – youtu.be/LCCQwpn0L5c

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Joshua+017

 

Joshua Chapter 17 (ESV)

¹ Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. ² And allotments were made to the rest of the people of Manasseh by their clans, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, by their clans.

³ Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ⁴ They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers.” So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.⁵ Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, ⁶ because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh.

⁷ The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. ⁸ The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim. ⁹ Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea, ¹⁰ the land to the south being Ephraim’s and that to the north being Manasseh’s, with the sea forming its boundary. On the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar. ¹¹ Also in Issachar and in Asher Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; the third is Naphath¹² Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.¹³ Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

 ¹⁴ Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” ¹⁵ And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” ¹⁶ The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” ¹⁷ Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, ¹⁸ but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”

 

REFLECTION:

• Despite victory, there was disobedience among the tribes of Israel which indicated future disasters. When the population of Manassah grew, the tribe subdued several Canaanite towns in its territory. But rather than drive these people out as God had commanded, the Manassites enslaved them.
• Again, when the Manassah tribal members were challenged to conquer extra land, they failed to trust God, instead they responded, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron” (v16). Despite the unbroken record of military victories won with God’s aid, their vision of God were blocked by the iron chariots.

 

PRAYER: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for always walking with me. Whether it’s traversing rugged mountains or dark valleys, navigating winding paths or desolate wilderness, Your grace and love are always with me. However, despite receiving your abundant grace, my faith often falls short, and my body and spirit are weak. Especially when I face various difficulties, I become filled with worries and fears, much like the Israelites facing the “iron chariots” of the Canaanites in the past. Father in heaven, have mercy on my weakness. Teach me to rely solely on You in times of difficulty, instead of seeking my own ways and methods. Let me rest under the shadow of Your wings, relying on Your power to overcome. I deeply understand that external difficulties are not frightening; what is truly formidable is the pride and disobedience in my heart. That is my greatest enemy. Before I am intimidated by external challenges, I am already defeated by the enemies within my heart. My weakness and failures stem from my stubbornness and obstinacy. Father in heaven, transform my stubbornness into gentle obedience to You, and refine it to become a hundredfold strength. Strengthen my faith like a rock that can withstand any flood. Let it soar like an eagle, surpassing all barriers. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Turn Your Eyes – youtu.be/ZJDELcuYX3g