Hold Fast! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 23:8,

",,, you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now."

In this chapter of Joshua, we find Joshua at his life's end. It provides the account of when he summoned all the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel. In his address to them he reminds them how the Lord had fought for them and fulfilled every one of his promises to Israel, "You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed." Verse 14.

Joshua also exhorted them to obey everything in the "Book of the Law of Moses", verse 6. He encouraged them that the Lord would continue to drive out of the land their enemies that still remained, "The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you." Verse 5.

Additionally, he warned them that if they were to intermarry and associate with the survivors of their enemies that still remained, the Lord would no longer support them, "... then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you." Verse 13.

In light of these things Joshua urged the Israelites strongly to, "... be very careful to love the Lord your God", verse 11, and to "hold fast to the Lord your God", verse 8.

His exhortation to the leaders of Israel reminds me of what the writer of Hebrews said, "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end." Hebrews 3:12-14.

While I firmly believe the Lord keeps us in him once we have embraced him in faith ("He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9.), nevertheless, as we read in Hebrews, we need to encourage one another daily so that we do not become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We need to hold fast to the Lord our God, just as Joshua told the leaders of Israel!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Love the Lord by Keeping His Commands - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 22:5,

"Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

As Joshua dismissed the Reubenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh to return to their homes on the east side of the Jordan following the taking of the Promised Land, he gave them this admonition.

I see five imperatives in this admonition:

"Love the Lord your God"
"Walk in obedience to him"
"Keep his commands"
"Hold fast to him"
"Serve him with all your heart and with all your soul"

This five-fold admonition should have profound importance in the way we comport our lives today. Here are a few passages that speak to this:

"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'" Matthew 22:36-40.

"A new command I [Jesus] give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35.

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." John 14:21.

"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:10-14.

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13-14.

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God's commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." 1 John 3:23.

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world." 1 John 5:1-4.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Names of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 22:22,

"The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day."

Following the taking of the Promised Land by all twelve tribes, Joshua dismissed the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh to return to the eastern side of the Jordan River where they had been given land by Moses. The remaining tribes had their inheritance of land on the west side.

As the two and a half tribes left to go home, they built an "imposing" altar (verse 10) just before crossing the Jordan, at Geliloth. Upon hearing about it, the remaining tribes took it to be an act of rebellion against the altar Moses had built that was at Shiloh at the time. Fearing the Lord's retribution against the whole nation for it, they confronted Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh at Geliloth and expressed their outrage at it.

The two and a half tribes responded by saying their intentions in building this altar had nothing to do with a desire to abandon the altar of the Lord Moses had built. Their purpose was just the opposite, to create a monument for succeeding generations, a reminder that although the Jordan separated the tribes, the remaining tribes would not cut off Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh and claim they had no share in the Lord.

In insisting upon their innocence in the matter they called on God as a witness. As they did they repeated a three-fold name for God and repeated it twice to express their deeply felt feelings. "The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord!" is translated from El Elohim YHWH. The NIV First-Century Study Bible points out, "This three-word phrase could also be translated "God of gods, Yahweh" or "God, God, the Lord." This was probably some kind of sacred phrase, for it was used here in the context of a solemn oath. In any case, Elohim and YHWH, the two most important names for God, are used in a single phrase."

There is only one other time in Scripture we find this three-fold name in calling upon God. In Psalm 50:1 we read, "The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets." In that psalm seven names and titles for God are found. Can you find the other ones?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Innocent Until Proven Guilty - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 20:6a,

"They [someone who caused the death of another unintentionally] are to stay in that city [a city of refuge] until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time."

The Lord had the Israelites set aside six cities as "cities of refuge". Three were established on the west of the Jordan and three on the east. They were situated geographically to cover Israel evenly so as to be as reachable as possible by someone who had unintentionally caused the death of another, without malice aforethought. It was the responsibility of the leaders of these cities to provide protection for an accused until a trial could take place. That protection was needed as it was the responsibility, typically, of the nearest male relative to avenge the killing of a family member, "the avenger of blood".

According to the NIV Quest Study Bible, "The avenger was not to be a vigilante seeking vengeance; his aim was retribution, restoring the life balance in society. His motivation was justice, not anger."

This provision, established by the Lord, set the precedence of a principle we have always embraced as a nation ourselves, "innocent until proven guilty." Unfortunately, it appears to be a principle not as highly esteemed today as we have seen in the news lately. Sometimes it feels like we are drifting toward a lynch mob mentality in our culture.

I think God's way is best!

Remember, a person's politics is simply the public expression of that person's spiritual condition.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Our Lasting Inheritance! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 19:1-2,

"The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. It included..."

Beginning with the tribe of Benjamin in the previous chapter and throughout this chapter, an account is given of the allotment of land set aside for seven of the tribes of Israel. This was done by "lot". So, the first lot went to Benjamin and then on through the six remaining tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

Yet again, all of this reminds me of the inheritance that will be ours in the resurrection. Exactly what that might be or what it looks like is a bit of a mystery, but it is fun to speculate and think about. This inheritance is guaranteed to us, "When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13b-14.

Our guaranteed inheritance should bring a joyful thanksgiving to the Father from within our hearts, since he is the one who has qualified us for it "... giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:12.

Our inheritance is something that Paul prayed his readers might grasp through enlightenment, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19.

This lasting, permanent, durable and stable inheritance is something to rejoice in! "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice..." 1 Peter 1: 3-6.

As I say, when I read of the inheritance God promised Abraham's offspring, I can't help but think of the inheritance that is ours through Jesus Christ!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Faith of Two Great Men: Joshua and Caleb - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 19:49-50,

"When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the Lord had commanded."

In Genesis 12:7 we read that the Lord promised Abraham, the progenitor of the nation of Israel, that he would give the land of Canaan to his offspring. Four centuries later, Moses, the Lord's appointed man, brought Israel, now a large nation in subjugation, out from Egypt. Following their exodus from Egypt, Moses sent out twelve spies to provide reconnaissance on the land of Canaan, Numbers 13.

When the twelve spies returned to Moses, ten of the spies gave a report that reflected a total lack of faith in God's willingness or ability to provide Israel a victory over the peoples living in Canaan, the land the Lord promised them. However, two brought back a message just the opposite, "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'" Both Joshua and Caleb attempted to encourage the people in what the Lord had promised.

As most are aware, the Israelites displayed a miserable failure to trust the Lord and followed the advice of the ten spies. As a result the Lord sent them on a forty year sojourn in the wilderness - until that generation had passed.

Following that forty year sojourn, two of that generation survived, Joshua and Caleb. Now that Israel had entered Canaan to take it, a distribution of land was made. Earlier, in Joshua 13, the account is given on the distribution of land on the east side of the Jordan river. But the distribution on the west side of the Jordan river in Canaan begins with an allotment for Caleb, Joshua 14:6-15. Following his allotment, the account of the distribution of the land is given in chapters 15:1-19:48. The account of the distribution ends with that which was given to Joshua at the end of chapter 19.

Like bookends, the distribution of the land the Lord promised to Abraham begins and ends with what was given to the two faithful men who served the Lord well. In between is found the distribution given by tribes and clans, not individuals.

I am reminded of the definition of faith the writer of Hebrews provides in Hebrews 11:1-2, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Certainly Joshua and Caleb, although not mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, were commended for their faith as seen in the pattern of the distribution of land on the west side of the Jordan.

May we all emulate the faith of Joshua and Caleb!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Casting Lots - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 18:10,

"Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions."

Seven of the tribes of Israel had not yet received their portions of the Promised Land so Joshua had them send out survey crews to map out the land that would be available. When they returned with their descriptions Joshua "cast lots" in the presence of the Lord to determine which tribe got which allotment of land.

Exactly how the lots were cast is not known with certainty, but the Quest Study Bible comments, "They most likely mixed small marked stones in a jar and drew them out one at a time." However it was done, it prevented anyone from feeling the distribution of land was not impartial - there would be no favoritism as God would direct the distribution as the lots were cast.

We read in Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." We find lots being cast in differing places in Scripture: Leviticus 16:8, 1 Samuel 14:42, Nehemiah 10:34.

Casting lots accomplished two things. It removed the opportunity to treat anyone unfairly by favoring another. It also removed the potential for unfounded suspicion that that opportunity had been exploited. Both outcomes of our lost and fallen natures.

I find it interesting how the Lord at times provides solutions for his purposes given our shortcomings. It appears to me that it might be wise to take a clue here in heading off potential problems in following his example.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Lord's Expectations - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 18:3,

"So Joshua said to the Israelites: 'How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?'"

Following the general defeat of the Canaanites by the combined forces of all the tribes of Israel under the leadership of Joshua, each of the tribes were expected to "clean up" pockets of resistance within their allotted territories and take full possession of it. Joshua here called them out on not having fulfilled what was expected of them from the Lord.

This passage reminds me of Hebrews 5:11-14, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

I note in that passage that the writer of Hebrews says, "by this time you ought...". There is an element of expectation by the Lord that after a certain length of time there are achievements we should reach in our spiritual growth in him. There is a level of maturity, marked by our understanding of those things beyond elementary truths that should be evident in our lives, things we should be trained in. This is the spiritual territory the Lord has provided for us that we are to pursue and overtake.

I ask myself this morning, have I achieved those things the Lord expects of me? As I think of all he has done for me, he certainly is due no less from me.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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A Strong Indomitable Warrior Spirit! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 17:16,

"The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

Members of the two tribes making up the "people of Joseph" approached Joshua to complain they needed more land. Joshua told them to clear the land already given them and clear out the Canaanites living there. I note their response is one that reflects a helplessness and a certain lack of confidence in the Lord to provide them success.

Contrast their outlook to that of Caleb when he approached Joshua, "Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me [Caleb] alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." Joshua 14:10-12.

Caleb had a bold, confident, indomitable warrior spirit. Not so the people of Joseph. I am confident that today we need believers who have cultivated indomitable warrior spirits in love. By that, I don't mean a people looking for a fight, but a people strong in heart, confident in the Lord with unshakable faith in him.

In a day when lawlessness is expected, (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12), believers need to be prepared for spiritual challenge and to meet that challenge with full faith and confidence in God who brings victory. Paul's words come to mind here, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

We need believers who face the challenges ahead with an indomitable warrior spirit! Strong like Caleb and not like the people of Joseph!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Lord's Commands - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 17:12-13,

"Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely."

The tribe of Manasseh was unable/unwilling to overcome the towns of Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements. However, in the beginning of the book we read, "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 'Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses."

I have to think the failure of Israel to occupy certain towns and areas had to do with their own failure to follow the Lord and what the Lord had asked Israel to do. "When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.'" Joshua 13:1.

How about me today? Do I love the Lord enough to do as he asks me? "Whoever has my [Jesus'] commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." John 14:21. When I say I love the Lord, is that reflected in the way I keep his commands?

Are there some things left undone the Lord would have me do while I am still in this life? "You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14. Paul told the church in Corinth, "Keeping God's commands is what counts." 1 Corinthians 7:19. John said, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him." 1 John 3:21-22. He also said, "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:2-5.

It appears knowing and doing the things the Lord commands is an imperative (pun intended) in this life!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Why All The Detail? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 16:1-3,

"The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea."

The book of Joshua provides details of the distribution of the Promised Land. The importance of documenting the boundary lines, the towns and other geographic details weighs very importantly in our understanding of the faithfulness of God.

The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, the progenitor of Israel, and promised to give this land to his offspring, a people descended from him, a nation God would make of him. The Lord told him, "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." Genesis 15:7. We also read in verses 18-21 of that chapter, "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.'" Having the possession of the land documented with all the details in Joshua helps us understand how the Lord fulfills his promises - even when man falls short in the bargain at times.

In Romans 11:29 we read, "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." As we learn of God's faithfulness, as in the documentation of the distribution of the Promised Land we read of in Joshua, we learn to take great confidence in his promises to us.

One such promise is found in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." God will keep us safe in him for the eternal life he has promised us. This we know because he has been consistently faithful with all he says, as in the documentation found in Joshua.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Boundaries - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 16:5,

"This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon..."

God sets boundaries. In Acts 17:26-27 we read, "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." As I say, God sets boundaries.

Here in Joshua 16 we read of the boundaries for Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph. This was their portion in the Promised Land as it was allocated. The Promised Land was set aside for Israel to take as their national homeland. Combined with the other tribes allocations, it makes up the boundaries for the nation as a whole.

Oftentimes we think in terms of "boundaries" as establishing the limits to something. That is not necessarily always implied. Sometimes we should think in terms of boundaries as indicating the fullness of something. A boundary can express that something extends all the way out to a point, or a line. In other words, boundaries can define the expansive nature of something and not just its narrowness, its limitation.

This causes me to think in terms of the boundaries I have as a child of God. I see both the limiting boundaries the Lord has for me as well as the expansive nature of boundaries the Lord has provided me in Peter's words, "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and, 'A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:1-10.

What "boundaries", both in terms of limitations as well as expansiveness for God's children, do you see in that passage?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Costly Disobedience - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 16:10,

"They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor."

In Deuteronomy 7:1-2 we read, "When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy." Destroy them totally... pretty clear, isn't it?

Yet, we see in Joshua 16:10 that Ephraim chose to exploit an opportunity and use the Canaanites as slave labor. As we read of Israel's history we find that though they may have experienced some short-term benefit, their disobedience to God cost them severely.

It brings to mind the opportunists today that exploit what God has provided for their own personal interests rather than obey him in all things. TV evangelists that plunder would-be people of God to amass personal fortunes, pastors who exploit their position of trust among an unsuspecting congregation by engaging in adultery with women in their flock, leaders of church-connected charitable organizations that lay claim to the heartfelt desire of God's people to help others less fortunate - who draw massive salaries, etc.

God has provided for the church, as he did Israel, wonderful blessings to be used according to his purposes. Woe to those who exploit those things in disobeying him. 

I suspect many who do these things are really not that convinced that judgment day is coming. But... it is!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Our Activities in the Resurrection - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 15:18-19,

"One day when she [Aksah daughter of Caleb] came to Othniel [her husband], she urged him to ask her father  for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, 'What can I do for you?' She replied, 'Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.' So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs."

During the distribution of the Promised Land, Aksah and her husband, Othniel, asked her father, Caleb, for an area that had springs. They already had land given to them and they wanted water for flocks or cultivated fields or for whatever to realize their ambitions and aspirations.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of entering into God's kingdom and becoming heavenly bound in terms of entering into "God's rest", Hebrews 4, and uses the intention God had for Israel to subdue the Promised Land and inhabit it with our entrance into eternal life as believers today. The writer says, "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:8-11. This is the plea made to embrace Jesus Christ.

As Aksah and Othniel had ambitions and aspirations for their inheritance in the Promised Land, it causes me to wonder about what our own ambitions and aspirations might be as we dwell with the Lord in eternity, having entered his rest. For certain, the greatest ambition and aspiration of our lives here has to be the fulfilling of our singular and most important purpose in this life: finding Jesus Christ and inheriting eternal life through him.

Once there, in eternity, we will have those things we will wish to pursue. We know this because we are made in the image of our Creator and carry within us aspects that reflect his creative propensities. Consequently, even in this life, we find a great need for meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction. Certainly we will be in pursuit of those things as we enjoy our eternal life together with the Lord: our ambitions and aspirations.

What will those activities be? What will they look like? The picture of an angel strumming a harp all day long is definitely out. First, we are not angels (and won't become angels in the next life - angels are a different race of people, different from the human race) and our need for meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction clearly won't be provided by a limited existence of spending all day long on a harp.

I have to think that since God made us a certain way, we will find pursuits he makes available to us that perfectly fit the way in which he made us - and that fit each of our personalities. You will recall, in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall of man, while living in communion with God in a pristine environment, Adam and Eve had their pursuits, tending to the garden, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15.

Perhaps some may feel it is pointless to spend time thinking of these things, but not me. We are told, "Be joyful in hope..." Romans 12:12. I think focusing on our great hope that is ours in the resurrection is exactly what the Lord desires of us. It provides us the patience, the encouragement, and even the excitement we all need in this life as we look to the next. Paul also tells us, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19.

What activities will you be engaged in as you enjoy the Lord together with all his people? What might your ambitions and aspirations be in eternity? What do you see yourself accomplishing and pursuing that will be pleasing to the Lord and pleasing to you?

Certainly there will be a briefing on what all is available for us upon our entry into eternal life with the Lord, but isn't it fun, isn't it exciting to speculate today?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

Our Abode in the Resurrection - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 15:19,

"'Do me [Aksah, Caleb's daughter] a special favor. Since you [Caleb] have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.' So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs."

During the distribution of land, Caleb's daughter, Aksah, who had already received land in the Negev, requested her father for springs of water. We read that Caleb responded by giving her "the upper and lower springs."

Reading about the various aspects of the distribution of the Promised Land during the time of Joshua causes me to think of our inheritance in the kingdom of God. What do those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ have awaiting us when we arrive, resurrected, in his kingdom? What will our living conditions be like? Will we have mansions, grand estates, lush beautiful gardens to tend?

Will the climate and features of that place be akin to a tropical paradise? How about a big beautiful log lodge on snowy slopes with a roaring fireplace? Will there be a cycle of seasons as the endless years pass by?

I think we all are inclined to interpret what our new abode will be like based on what we find today as what stimulates our interests and tastes. I suspect it will not be exactly what any of us tends to fancy today. Rather, our environment will be an objective reality apart from our imaginings and dreams. 

The important thing to consider, that which is greatest of all, is it will be where our Savior makes his abode. In contrast to this cold and impersonal world we live in today, the new world that awaits us in the resurrection will manifest his magnificent perfections and glory. I'm sure our environment will reflect what suits his purposes, his desires and his manifold splendor. 

Because of this, our new environment will be exactly what we will find to be the greatest and most grand existence for an eternity - no matter what we, on this side of the resurrection, imagine it might look like to be. 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

Caleb's Confidence - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 14:7-8,

"I [Caleb] was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly."

These are the words spoken by Caleb to Joshua at the time of the distribution of the Promised Land. You will recall that twelve spies were sent out from Kadesh Barnea to spy out Canaan prior to Israel's invasion of it. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb brought back an encouraging report and urged the Israelites to go up and take the land. The other ten spies came back with a message of doom and gloom. For them, there was no way the Israelites could conquer the Canaanites. They were simply too big and strong. The nation followed the ten culprits. This is what thrust Israel into her forty year sojourn in the wilderness at God's hand.

The ten spies and the Israelites failed to place their faith and confidence in God-- that God could deliver the Canaanite peoples over to them. No faith and confidence in the promises of God.

Note how Caleb couches his report to the Israelites to take the land. He says his report was consistent with his convictions. He followed the Lord wholeheartedly. The essence of faith, trust, conviction and confidence in God. Like his ancestor, Abraham, Caleb was "fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:21.

How about me today? Am I strong in my confidence in God? Am I fully persuaded God can and will do what he promises us? Do I share Paul's confidence in God's intentions for me? "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillippians 1:4-6.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.  

God is Faithful! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 14:1,

"Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them."

As we read some of the specifics of the geographical landmarks used in the distribution of the land, we are provided an opportunity to witness how God fulfilled his promises in providing that which he had promised. We find God to be entirely faithful to his promises-- we can trust him for all he promises!

In fact, Paul tells us that it was precisely Abraham's faith in God's ability and desire to fulfill his promises that brought him a righteous standing with God. "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:18-22.

As I read of the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, I am reminded of God's promises to us today. God is faithful! "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.  

We Have an Inheritance! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 13:33,

"But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them."

The tribe of Levi was the only tribe of Israel that did not receive land as their share of the inheritance of the covenant God made with Abraham. The Lord himself was to be their share by giving them responsibility for the priestly duties of the nation. As such they shared in the received offerings and tithes from the other tribes.

I am reminded that those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith have received an inheritance from our heavenly Father. "... giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:12-14.

This inheritance is guaranteed to us with a deposit we currently possess, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14.

How wonderful is that?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

Fulfilling Our LIfe's Purpose - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 13:1,

"When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.'"

Clearly Joshua, as Moses' successor, was a great leader and had accomplished much. Here, however, we read that as Joshua had gotten older, there was work left undone by the Israelites. There were "still very large areas of land to be taken over." Joshua was placed in his leadership role for the purpose of taking over the promised land.

It causes me to think of my own time here in this life. As we all have, I have only one lifetime here and it appears to me to be important that I expend that one lifetime by accomplishing all the Lord would desire of me. We all only have one turn in life.

As an aside, all those who have odd notions of "reincarnation" or other notions of some form of going through this life more than once, may I offer the truth about such imaginings? "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28.

Yep, we all only have one life to live, and following that, it's on into eternity (and not a return to this life). After we leave this life, we all, each and every one of us, will face God's judgment of us. I'm certain how we lived our one life and what we accomplished with it will come up during that judgment. The one singular utmost purpose of this life the Lord has given us is to find Jesus Christ in our embrace of him in faith. Following that are the things the Lord would want of the rest of our lives.

How thankful I am for the atonement Jesus Christ made on my behalf, that I do not face condemnation for the many things deserving it in my life! Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.

In light of what Jesus has done for me, it seems appropriate that I expend the one life I have been given to pursue or complete whatever it is the Lord would desire of me with that life he has given me. 

How wonderful it would be to enter into heaven hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.