DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-04-23
WRITTEN AT: Citra, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 1:7-8
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷ Always be strong and courageous, and always live by all of the law I gave to my servant Moses, never turning from it—even ever so slightly—so that you may succeed wherever you go. ⁸ Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success.

APPLICATION: GPS apps and programs have become quite popular for those wishing to find the quickest and shortest route to their destination. Often without a GPS, folk tend to easily get lost, and waste fuel trying to get back on course. Joshua had many options available to him as he assumed leadership of the Israelites. I’m sure that each of the tribal leaders had their own ideas, should Joshua had chosen to listen to their advice. But Moses gave Joshua instructions from God. At that point, Joshua had to decide whether he would accept and follow God’s instructions, or choose to do his own thing. That’s a crossroad we all face each day, for we may open the Word of God and clearly see what He has ordered for us to do, but then we arrive at work and may be given a different agenda by our boss. Decisions, decisions!! But here’s an example of what happens when we choose to do our own thing: I had a relative that would often question why her cake, or other prepared meal would not turn out as good as the one she tasted when she asked for the recipe. My wife or I would ask her if she followed the recipe exactly. By the time she had finished telling us of the exceptions, we helped her realize that her exceptions resulted in a totally different taste or texture!! Isn’t that somewhat like us when we decide that God didn’t really mean that we should follow His exact commands? As God’s representative, Joshua was told not to steer off-course, but to follow the exact commands ordered by God. After all, God had certain end results in mind, and He knew how His people could achieve those results. Friends, so many of us have added our own little twists to what God may have intended for us to do, that the unsaved are confused. I had a friend recently ask me ‘so why did Jesus rise from the dead?’ I was really caught off guard, because I felt like everyone knew the importance of a resurrected Lord. But think about what the lost are seeing in us. Some religions still show publicly that Jesus is still on the cross, so why believe us when we teach and preach about the risen Lord? And that just one of the contradictions that the lost are seeing as they analyze the call on their life by Jesus Christ. Not only have we determined our own way, but we are misleading those whom Jesus is determined to save. God told Joshua to meditate on His words day and night so he would be sure that he knows what it says; remember what it says; and obediently follow what it says. Throughout the rest of the Bible, God clearly promises great success and ultimate happiness to His who does exactly what He ordered Joshua to do. BUT, God goes one step further by telling those who don’t follow His instructions, that they would end up with totally different results. Eternity in heaven with God and His Son, versus eternal damnation in Hell with Satan and his demons. The invitation to Heaven is open to all who will believe in the Lord Jesus. That includes you, dear friend. Accept this as a call from Jesus and invite Him to be Lord of your life today. Ask Him for the course you are to take that will lead you to His throne in Heaven.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Proper instructions have been given for our final destination in Heaven. Let’s stay the course!

PRAYER: You’ve given us what we need to decide between life and death, between heaven and hell, between the love of God and the damnation of Satan. Please continue to impress upon us the need to learn, stay connected, and be determined to obey Your Book of Instruction – the Bible – our compass with concise directions to heaven! Thank You for giving Moses and Joshua such perfect instructions to lead such a vast crowd through the wilderness without food, water or clothing. We are blessed with so much more, but I pray that You will still reach deep into our hearts and promote a sense of determination to obey You in every walk of life. Oh that the lost will understand from Your Word, and the practice of Your children, the right course You have in store for them to stay the course to heaven. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!