LEARNING DAILY

 

Joshua 1:7-9, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do all according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in (my emphasis) it day and night, that you may observe to do all according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord speaking to Joshua.

 

I write each day to encourage and teach all who read this blog. But I write to encourage myself as well. I want to hear God speak audibly to me in conversation; He seems to do so through His written Word.  This morning my prayer was to guide me to words of encouragement and I ended up in the above words to Joshua.

 

Moses had led God’s people out of Egypt, authored the first five books of our Bible, known as the Law, and had gotten the people to the Promised Land. It was now up to Joshua to lead the people and take possession of the land God had given them. The Lord knew the challenges that were before the people; He told Joshua to be “strong and very courageous”, meaning to be firm and not be persuaded to turn from the direction He was leading. Joshua was going to face challenges from his own people and those who possessed the land. The Lord told Joshua that to be successful he needed to be in God’s Word.  That meant to read, study, meditate on it continually.  It was to be his guide, his strength, and his encouragement.  He was to be obedient to it. The Word of God was to be their authority as opposed to all human ideas or religions (LSSB). Obedience means to know and take to heart the words of God each day.

 

I thought 2020 was a difficult year and then came 2021. I have seen radical changes happening to the way we live our lives; those in political power continue to try to pass legislation that would continue that change.  I have seen how quickly people give-in to a way of life we are told has to be lived in order to live.  It has been obvious how quickly something like covid-19 and all it various forms can alter our life styles and how government can control us. Look how human ideas have disrupted our way of life. It is not difficult to see that people have gotten far away from Biblical principles that have guided our country for so long. What happens when God’s Word is not read, studied, meditated on? Look around. Read or watch the news. I fear too many people in and out of leadership have turned to the “left and right of God’s Word” and His written words have departed from our mouths and hearts. God’s Word must still be our guide!

 

What will 2022 bring?  

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB