Daily Devotional

Who Has Great Power?

Scripture Josh 17:17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph–to Ephraim and Manasseh–saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot,

Observation: As you read the whole chapter Joshua is dividing the territory among the tribes of Israel. People are complaining and wanting more, sound familiar? Joshua is giving directions, but is he asking God? He says that they are a great people with great power, but who gave them this power? As I read I don’t hear God being glorified just people deciding what they want. The only one who is great is our God he alone has great power, but when things are going good and what we want is our main focus, God seems to disappear from our heart.

Application: I could be an Israelite, the way I act. I want what I want without consulting God. When I’m down and out or need direction I’m there begging God for guidance and strength, but where is my God with things are going well? God is not an umbrella you bring out only when it rains, He should always be their because he reigns. God needs to be with me all of the time and he deserves all of my love, praise and obedience.

Prayer: My Lord and my God I’m your servant and not the other way around. I want you to be my main focus since you are my Master and I need to be aware of your desires and not mine. Please speak to me and guide me each day to do what you call me to do. I was created especially for you by you. May I be of use to you.

Our Lot in Life

Scripture Josh 16:1 The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel

Observation: Things come our way all the time, good and bad. They use to draw lots to see how things were going to go or who would get what. The soldiers during Jesus crucifixion drew lots to see who would get His cloths. That is what our life is we make decision and draw lots to see what is going to happen. God isn’t concerned as much of what are lot is going to decide, instead He wants to see what we are going to do with the lot we draw. Are we going to glorify Him in the situations we draw, are we going to trust Him to get us through a situation or are we going to be so focused on ourselves that we miss an opportunity to show our love and trust in our Lord?

Application: Each day will have some type of situation come up and I need to decide how I’m going to handle it. Will my focus be on God or myself. If it’s good will I take the credit or if it’s bad will I wallow in self-pity and forget with Christ I can do all things and that He loves me and is there next to me. We may not be able to choose the lot that we draw each day, but we can decide how we are going to handle them, with or without God.

Prayer: My Lord forgive my arrogance to think that I can handle this life without you. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t need you and what you with me. Help me draw closer to you and hear your voice guide me through this life and that each day I’ll glorify you and point others do you. Use this servant and walk with me.

Sinners Dwell with Us

Scripture Josh 15:63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Observation: The Jebusites tricked Joshua from destroying them. Joshua never asked God’s counsel before making a decision and now the Israelites will have the Jebusites with them. We are surrounded by foreigners, non-Christians, so what are we supposed to do? We can get rid of them by asking for God’s counsel on how to convert them to Christianity so they are no longer foreigners, but brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to do exactly that for our heavenly Father wants non to perish, but that all would receive eternal life with Him.

Application: I need to search for people that God puts in my path and take the opportunity to witness and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in their life. That is why I’m still here to be a messenger for my Lord. To tell others all the wonderful things He has done for me and that He wants to do the same in their life. I need to be more observant of my surroundings and search out the foreigners that surround me and bring them into God’s family.

Prayer: My Lord may I not be so self-absorbed, but focused on the people you put in my path. Give me wisdom and courage to witness to the foreigners you surround me with and use me as a light in this very dark place.

The Rewards for the Lord’s Followers

Scripture Josh 14:14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

Observation: Caleb was the only one, besides Joshua who believed the Lord would deliver the promised land. Only Caleb and Joshua saw the promised land after forty years and those who didn’t believe died in the dessert. God rewards those who obey and trust in Him, Caleb was awarded even more land than the others and He trusted in God to deliver him from his enemies and it was done as he asked.

Application: I have reaped many rewards from my Lord, rewards I don’t deserve, but because I trusted God when He called He blessed me. I’m not sure how many rewards I didn’t receive because of my lack of trust and faith, I’m sure it is more than I received. God desires us to have those rewards, like any good Father would like to bless their children, that is how our heavenly father is. He desires us to have rewards, but we must love and obey His direction for our life. I need to be more faithful and trusting and stop worrying so much and give all I have to God.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for the rewards you have blessed me with and the new life you have given me. Thank you for all that I have and the way you have used your servant. Please increase my faith and use me till the day I get to be with you. All of my love, your servant and child.

To Inherit the Lord

Scripture Josh 13:33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as He had said to them.

Observation: The Levi’s made out much better than any of the other tribes, because their inheritance was the Lord. What more is there? To be able to serve the Lord completely and to inherit His blessings, I would want to be a Levi. I think it would be wonderful if my life time job was to serve and know God completely, instead of the part time job it has become in my life. It won’t be long till I receive my inheritance and I’ll have that time to know my Lord for all eternity.

Application: I need to make knowing and serving my Lord a full time and not a part time job. The better I get to know Him the more I’ll understand what He desires of me. To finish this race well I need to be ready for anything, studying the course that I’ll be running. I need to live a better life, one that honors God each day instead of every once in a while.

Prayer: Dear Lord for you to be my inheritance is everything. I know I’m not worthy of such an inheritance and I’ll never be. Help me get ready to honor you until I come home for ever with you. Use me and all that I have in glory and honor to your name.

Mark the Servant of the Lord

Scripture Josh 12:6 These Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the LORD had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

Observation: Twice in this verse it says Moses the servant of the Lord. That is how I want to be known as the Lord’s servant. To be close to Him and know what He desires and then get it as He commands. I want others to see me as my Lord’s servant a humble man who loves others and serves. There is nothing greater that I can think of then being the Lord’s servant, because a master knows His servant.

Application: To be a servant I need to be obedient to what He calls me to do. I need to be attentive to His voice so that I may hear and obey at any time. I need to be focused on my Lord and not myself or things in this world. I need to serve joyfully anything my Lord’s commands me to do without hesitation and to the best of my ability.

Prayer: My Lord this is your servant. Please show me how I may serve you today. Help me hear your commands and do them with a joyful heart. I look forward to serving you for all eternity, praising your name in all that I do. Help me get ready now to be the servant you say, “well done good and faithful servant.

Doing All the Lord Commands

Scripture Josh 11:15 As the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Observation: I’ve done things that my Lord has asked me but I can’t say I left non undone that He commanded me, I can’t even say I did most of what He commanded me. There is nothing He asks me that I can’t do, I just choose to pick and choose what I want to do. I make excuses and pretend God hasn’t spoken to me or guided me, but like a disobedient child I turn my back. God asks very little of me and He has given me the power to do those things that He asks like Joshua, but my laziness overrules what I should be doing.

Application: I want to be a Joshua leaving nothing undone that my Lord commands me to do. When I do what God asks it is always a blessing and I can feel God being pleased. This should be all that I do, what He commands me to do. I’m here as a servant and I need to be serving my master each moment of every day.

Prayer: Lord help this lazy servant and get me serving you. Sunday I have an opportunity to please you as I give my testimony at church. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and direct what you want me to say and bring the people you desire to be there. I’m here only has your servant, may I be pleasing in your sight.