April 22nd Bible in a Year Readings

Joshua 24:1-33 + Luke 21:1-28 + Psalm 89:38-52 + Proverbs 13:20-23
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Old Testament - Today we finish up the book of Joshua!  What a book.  I have definitely learned much from this book this year.  And today's readings are no exception.  Chapter 24 is a wonderful closing to this book where the Israelites renew their covenant with God.  Verses 25 through 27 are awesome - "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to a permanent and binding contract between themselves and the LORD. Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the oak tree beside the Tabernacle of the LORD.  Joshua said to all the people, "This stone has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God."

It's great to read verse 32 and realize that Joseph's wishes from 200 years earlier of being buried in the Promised Land came to fruition!  It is amazing to realize the Israelites carried Joseph's bones with them throughout the 40 years in the desert to fulfill this wish -  "The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the parcel of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for one hundred pieces of silver.  This land was located in the territory allotted to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph."

New Testament - Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 21 readings today titled "Jerusalem in the Last Days" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 89 verse 48 is something important to keep in mind as I think it does help us think about how we are really living our short earthly lives - "No one can live forever; all will die.  No one can escape the power of the grave."  Knowing this, how are you living your life?  Are you living your life with love?  Are you loving God and loving other people with all that you are?  Are you living your life intentionally?  Are you living your life as God would want you to live your life?  I heard someone once state: "Just keep in mind that we're not going to live forever.  100 years from now on this planet?  It will be all new people."  That is an interesting thing to keep in mind...  100 years from now...  all new people.  Hopefully this is a fact that encourages each of us not to waste our precious time here on things that are not of God!  No one escapes the grave.  Our condition is terminal.  (But of course our condition can be eternal through faith in Jesus!)

Proverbs - Wow. Today in Proverbs chapter 13 verse 20 we read – “He who walks with the wise grows wise.” There is so much wisdom in this verse. Basically, you can boil this down to “choose your friends with care” – but I think there is more going on here. This life we each live really is so short. And there are so many people in our lives that we can choose to spend our time with. And I think it would be very wise on our part to attempt to spend quality time with quality people. Wise people. Otherwise, we can get swept up in a myriad of pop-cultural distractions and cares. And who we choose to hang around with a lot is who we too shall become. Don’t get me wrong – there are clearly times that we are called to minister or serve or love or spend time with people that may not appear “wise” – at first glance. I think if you truly are ministering or serving or loving someone who is down and out, you may be surprised how wise a down and out person can be – sometimes I think they can be closer to God in some ways. So – I’m just saying don’t insulate yourself with only spending time with people who appear worldly & wise. :) Wisdom and wise people truly can be found in the most unlikely of places. Last point I’ll make on this verse. When I read this verse – “He who walks with the wise grows wise” – it makes me think of how important it is for each of us to be attending a church each and every week. The church is the body of Christ. The church is truly “wise.” And if we ourselves are not walking with other believers in the body of Christ by investing in a church on a weekly basis, then I think we are at risk of getting swept up in the pop-cultural cares of this fleeting world. Church is wise. Attending church on a weekly basis is wise. I believe attending church on a weekly basis will make you wise.

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of NEEDTOBREATHE's song "Fall on Me:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIPOg_ayNBQ

Have you fallen on God? Click here and fall on Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." Proverbs 13:20 NLT

Prayer Point: Pray that God will lead you to wise people to walk with and grow wise with. Pray that you will not associate with fools and get in trouble.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on our Proverb today, are you walking with the wise?  Do you want to walk with the wise?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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Comments

[Ramona]

Joshua 24:1-33

Two verses in the twenty-fourth chapter have not only caught my attention but also fired my imagination,

3 But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac. 4 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the hill country of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

Esau was given the hill country while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt to become enslaved. Looking at this without seeing God’s perspective or having the advantage of hindsight the fact that Esau was given the hill country and Jacob/Israel would seem that God had favored Esau. The Word spoken to Rebekah regarding the twins she carried,
23 And the LORD said unto her, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger” (Gen 25:23).

Jacob was the younger and Esau the older and the Word of God never returns to Him void, it always accomplish that which was spoken by Him even when observed before the fullness of time. It took over 400 years before God’s Word to Rebekah came to past.

We do not fulfill God’s Word to us by us working the word; His Word is fulfilled as we live in obedience to his commands. Rebekah thought that she could fulfill God’s Word to Jacob by tricks and manipulation. Esau thought he could subvert the Word that had been spoken by God through his father by plotting to kill his brother. (Genesis 25-50)

Luke 21:1-28

Interesting how we are awed by the work or our hands and we think what we build or create should last forever. I’ve heard people say that if you want to be immortal, write a book as if leather and dead trees with printer’s ink on it will someone give you what God can give you, eternal life.

5 Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, 6 "The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another."

After Jesus describes the events that will lead up to His second coming He tells His disciples to, “…stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near.” He had already told them as he began his discourse telling his followers not to panic meaning that there will be things happening to make you want to panic so standing straight and looking up in the midst of crises take courage which must be an act of the will.

Psalm 89:38-52
When we mock God’s creation we mock Him who created that which we mock, God.

Proverbs 13:20-23

21 Trouble chases sinners, while blessings chase the righteous!

Oh just think of it being chased down by blessings, I’ll take some of that.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Dee]

The end of an Era..The Book of Joshua..now Judges..even though I know what's coming because I have read before..the Israelites are going to get hasty. They want a ruler..they want someone to rule them or judge them..Joshua is gone..we still have Caleb there..hmm. and we will hear the "rest of the story!"

The destruction told about in Luke today. And I always am in awe of the widows mite. Makes me think of my sweet mama who has gone and passed away from this world. She loved and gave like that..so sweet.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leave an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Wow..I hope I meet my children's children and the biggest investment is the Kingdom of JC! I want them to know you Lord.

My fervent hope is I'm walking with the wise! I hope to be a blessing and grow wise and establish wisdom from the sweet saints I embrace each. My church, my prayer warriors, my colleagues, spouse, children both born of me and not from me. Love love and peace!

[Robert]

Today I listened to Tom Dooley's reading the scriptures. It was such a pleasure just letting the words sweep over me and I felt such peace even though some things like Jesus words on end times in Luke were powerful but yet conveyed such hope. The key point for me today was in Joshua verse 14, "But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord". I believe through all circumstances to hold onto that thought just brings me to a better place. And I think in a lot of ways that is how blessings chase us. I do look forward to this Sunday where church will be finally holding an outdoor service. Praise God.

[dmarts]

Yes Robert! I too love the scriptures read! And I love that verse: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! I love coming to the end of Joshua and he speaks of all the blessings over God's people! That's nice. And our timing is not God's timing. Nor our ways his ways. After 400 years he fulfilled his promise.

[Joyce]

Mike and everyone,
Mike, I deeply appreciate following this blog, and able to read through the book of Joshua, for the first time.
What a great Godly leader Joshua was!
Joshua 24:25-27 Amplified Bible
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God; and he took a great stone and set it up there under an oak that was in [the court of] the sanctuary of the Lord.
27 And Joshua said to all the people, See, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the Lord spoke to us; so it shall be a witness against you, lest [afterward] you lie (pretend) and deny your God.
He made a covenant with the people, made statutes and ordinances for them,
wrote these words down in the Book of the Law, and took a stone as a witness.
He put many safeguards to want to make sure the people won't deny God. And he finished doing all these before he died ...
Wow -- what a leader! What a leader that God had chosen for the Israelites!
What an example for us to follow today!

Gratefully,
Joyce

[Bob]

Joshua 24: 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
A couple of comments here: Righteousness can’t be forced. Make your choice a deliberate one. As we move into Judges, we will see if you choose God, it brings favor and glory to His name, (and you). I guess it is all a matter of free will and the consequences of our choice. I think Joshua, like any good preacher will present the evidence of the past and give you may good reasons to make your choice obvious. It’s not easy because like in verse 25:24, we can say we will serve the Lord but fall short. Judges will give us a whole array of reasons. I am going to pay attention!

[Billy]

Thanks Mike. Great advice on choosing "friends" wisely. Let's just say in my past I have had many not so "wise" friends and believe me I was right there with them.

[Raenn]

I try to think before I act.

[Lily]

It's amazing to read the story of the Israelites narrated by Joshua in Chapter 24, reminding them (us) how God chose them and continually reminding them of God's presence,forgiveness and honoring His covenant. The chapter ended with the renewal of the people's promise to honor and serve God only and get rid of their idols. This reminds me of how many times we promise God to follow Him and not succumb to temptations.

Life is short as always quoted. However, eternal life is forever. Thans be to God.

[Teriann]

I like Joshua's declaration in v.15, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." I also liked the effect it had on the people, how it increased and built up their faith. This made me think of the apostle Paul near the end of the book of Acts. He is on a ship that is lost at sea. No one has eaten in days and it says that they had given up all hope of being saved. In the midst of all this, Paul stands up and says that an angel appeared to him and promised that no one would die. And then he says, "I BELIEVE GOD!" His declaration of faith encouraged everyone. When our faith is strong I think it is important to declare it because it can encourage others around us who might be struggling at the time.

[Luch]

it's not just 'attending church' that makes you wise, it's ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING in the life of the Body of Christ that might make you wise. The operative word is 'actively participating' in the lives of others. That's what the many 'one another' exhortations area all about---church is about relationships not following prescribed rituals without the relational motivation. Just my two cents worth.

With reference to the brevity of life, and that 100 years from now there will be a whole bunch of brand new people does sure put life in perspective.

Not sure who said it, but it bears repeating, "Only one life it will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."

[Mae]

Joshua 24:19-20 "Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.” ~ You know what I notice lately? People that create their own God. They come to church once a week, hear the sermon, remember the things that come good to them and forget what they don't agree on. We have them here in the biblestudy. I observe them and see how they try to turn bad things into good. You know what I'm trying to say? They lie in specific situations and look for excuses to turn it into something good. ... Sigh ... am I explaining this correctly? I don't think there's any excuse to lie! If you're lying you're abandoning God. You might not serving another God perse, but you're defenitly NOT serving our Lord, the Father!

Are you walking with the wise? Do you want to walk with the wise? ~ Oh yes! I'm walking with the wise! I love to learn from people! I love to listen to them and to all the wisdom they have! I thank the Lord for putting so many (much?) wise people in my life! I've met the greatest and wisest people since I've accepted Jesus. I love to talk to them and I love to listen to their testimony's!

[Jen]

LUKE
Oh make us more faithful so we cab like the widow.

I enjoyed reading the link

PSALMS
I love with everything I have and I love my family. I dont think im living my life as exactly as God would like me too. Are any of us?

PROVERBS
This year i have found myself blogging with many Christains. Im learning a lot. I also go to church on a weekly basis.

[Marsha]

Amen and amen! Thank you again for the incredible encouragement and connection to the Word! This blog is amazing and helps so many engage in God's Word!!! Thank you for all of the work, time, love and faithfulness that you pour into this!!!!!! Glory be to God, blessings to His faithful servants!!!!

[Vance]

I completely and heartily agree with this statement:

"And if we ourselves are not walking with other believers in the body of Christ by investing in a church on a weekly basis, then...we are at risk of getting swept up in the pop-cultural cares of this fleeting world. Church is wise."

Of course, we are the church, the Body of Christ. The church is not perfect in behavior. But, thank God, that we are what we are by the GRACE of God!

Those who are truly the church seek to live the way that the Father through Joshua calls us to live: in regular, ongoing surrender

Joshua 24 (NKJV)
13
I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’
14
“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of 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.”

NOTE:
I note verse 13: "I have given you a land for which you did not labor..."

This reminds me of another inheritance, which the Father sovereignly made to include another verse 13:

Colossians 1 (NKJV)
12
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
13
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

OH... that I would always see the inheritance I ALREADY HAVE IN CHRIST. How could one possibly turn from Christ and not surrender to the Lord Jesus once they see the true wealth of spiritual riches that Jesus paid for and bestowed on those who trust Him?

I Corinthians 2 (Amplified)
12
Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

~~~

Joshua 24 (NKJV)
32
The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem...

NOTE:
There is a historical reality in confirming God's covenant.

The so called "Gospel of Judas" got me thinking about the importance of the
of the dual reality of the Lord Jesus: the historical reality and the spiritual reality.

I found an interesting news article on this Christian news website: www.agapepress.org/

The name of the article is, "The Gospel of Judas: A Betrayal of the Truth" Below is a small quote from the article.

"The Gospel of Judas tells an entirely different story than the one recorded in the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In this writing, Judas is the hero and not the betrayer of Christ. Instead, he is depicted as Christ's best friend -- the only one who really understands Jesus -- the one who turns Jesus over to the authorities for crucifixion at His behest -- helping Him shed his fleshly body and return to the spirit world."

"The teachings of The Gospel of Judas are Gnostic in origin. The Gnostics were a sect that believed only a select group of people was privy to a secret knowledge. THE MATERIAL WORLD TO THEM WAS A TRAP -- SOMETHING FROM WHICH TO ESCAPE TO ENTER INTO THE SPIRIT WORLD."

"As Hanson notes, the teachings of the 'Cainite Gnostics,' the group responsible for the Gospel of Judas, were characteristic for 'rehabilitating disgraced biblical figures, including Cain, the Sodomites, and Judas.'"

"Although Gnostics appeared to be Christian, there is nothing about their teachings that resembled what the apostles actually taught and passed down to the Church."

Note this key quote from the article: "THE MATERIAL WORLD TO [the Gnostics] WAS A TRAP -- SOMETHING FROM WHICH TO ESCAPE TO ENTER INTO THE SPIRIT WORLD."

Since they saw physical matter as evil, in their view Jesus could not possibly have been divine and also wanted a human body.

Yet, God's covenant has always had a historical reality. The physical bones of Joseph and the physical and historical grave site of those bones was a place where people could go and see evidence that could not be denied that God keeps His promises.

Consider how important the physical body of the Lord Jesus is to the NT.

In particular, note that the books of Colossians and I John were written specifically against the error and heresy of gnosticism.

Colossians 1 (NKJV)
21
AND YOU, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet NOW HE HAS RECONCILED
22
IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

I John 4 (NKJV)
2
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come IN THE FLESH is of God,
3
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come IN THE FLESH is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

~~~
Also consider this from Hebrews:

Hebrews 10 (NKJV)
19
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, THROUGH THE VEIL, THAT IS, HIS FLESH,...

22
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,...
23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works

FINAL NOTE:
If Jesus were not truly human, then He could not be our equal substitute or equal representative. Jesus had to be human because we are humans. Humans (Adam and Eve) allowed themselves to be
deceived through temptation, and only a human could later overcome the enemy by defeating temptation on behalf of humanity.

JESUS IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN. Anything less is less than what man needs and less that what God requires.

Also, Jesus was not simply a real human who was temporarily "endued" with the "divine" or the "Spirit" which then later left him.

No...
Jesus and the Father are one. He was crucified precisely because He claimed to be God.