Generations

"And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them." (Joshua 8:34–35 NKJV)

Observation:  Patriarchs and Prophets gives some very interesting insight on this passage: 

Parents can and should interest their children in the varied knowledge found in the sacred pages. But if they would interest their sons and daughters in the word of God, they must be interested in it themselves. They must be familiar with its teachings, and, as God commanded Israel, speak of it, "when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 11:19. Those who desire their children to love and reverence God must talk of his goodness, his majesty, and his power, as revealed in his word and in the works of creation. – {PP 504.2}

Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God to men. We should bind its precepts as signs upon our hands and as frontlets between our eyes. If studied and obeyed, it would lead God's people, as the Israelites were led, by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. – {PP 504.3} – PP Ch. 46 - The Blessings and the Curses

Application:  In reflecting on these insights about Mt. Gerezim and Mt. Ebal, I am humbled and broken.  I realize how inadequate I am to the task of raising my children in the fear of the Lord.  My heart is heavy for my children this morning.  I don't know what else to do but pray.  And seek power from the Throne of Grace.

Prayer:  Lord, please save my children.  I want to claim promises for them this morning.  I want to place before you the words of assurance you have given to me:

"Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children." (Isaiah 49:25 NKJV)

"The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.""

(Psalms 102:28 NKJV)

"Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, "Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth—" (Isaiah 43:5–7 NKJV)

"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." (Genesis 17:7 NKJV)

"He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations." (Psalms 72:4–5 NKJV)

"Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;" (Psalms 78:1–7 NKJV)

Lord, this Psalm 78 passage reminds me of that song by Sara Groves... Generations:

Generations

by Sara Groves

I can taste the fruit of Eve. 

I'm aware of sickness death and disease. 

The results of her choices were vast. 

Eve was the first but she wasn't the last. 

If I were honest with myself, 

had I been standing at that tree, 

my mouth and my hands would be covered with fruit. 

Things I shouldn't know and things I shouldn't see

CHORUS: 

Remind me of this with every decision.

Generations will reap what I sow. 

I can pass on a curse or a blessing

to those I will never know.

She taught us to fear the serpent. 

I'm learning to fear myself and 

all of the things I am capable of 

in my search for acceptance, wisdom and wealth. 

To say the devil made me do it 

is a cop-out and a lie. 

The devil can't make me do anything 

when I'm calling on Jesus Christ

CHORUS: 

Remind me of this with every decision.

Generations will reap what I sow. 

I can pass on a curse or a blessing

to those I will never know.

To my great-great-great-granddaughter, live in peace. 

To my great-great-great-grandson, live in peace. 

To my great-great-great granddaughter, live in peace. 

To my great-great-great-grandson, live in peace, live in peace.

CHORUS... Eve was the first but she wasn't the last.

O Jesus, for the generations in this household, and the generations to come... Establish Your covenant of grace, salvation, and peace with us.  Be our Covenant Keeper...  Keep us in Your Covenant.  Keep us in Your word.  Keep us in Prayer.  Keep us dependent upon You.  Keep us repentant and renewed.  Keep us mindful and watchful.  Keep us considerate of others.  Keep us hungry for home.  Keep us weeping for the lost.  O Jesus Keep our family together.  Keep us centered on You.  Keep the peace in our home.  Keep us Lord Jesus.  Keep us.

And, as our Keeper, I lift up my children to You.  They truly are the seeds of greatness you have entrusted to Ingrid and I.  Lord fill my children with Your Holy Spirit.  Fill Ingrid and I with Your Spirit.  Lord touch our lips with a coal from Your Holy Alter.  Let this home be a place of joy and peace.  Make it a dwelling of Your light and love.  Father bless our children.  Make Your face to shine upon them and give them peace.  I put our kids in Your hands.  I put our family in Your hands.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Devoted to Destruction

Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. (Joshua 7:12).

Valentines Day 2011.  This day is when the world celebrates love and devotion.  Question is, to whom or what are we devoted?  In this morning's reading for the RMC Conflict of the Ages reading challenge, the focus was on the Battle of Jericho, Achan's sin of covetousness, and taking of the spoil that had been devoted to destruction.

I don't particularly like this story.  Why?   Because it comes awful close to home.  I think about the Wii, I think about movies, I think about habits...  And I find myself not even wanting to ask the question... but realizing it is surely a question that must be asked... What are the things God has devoted to destruction in my life, in my home, in my church, in my community?  And secondly, am I devoted to these things?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, my heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.  Please Lord, I confess my covetousness and greed to You.  I confess that I am steeped in this secular American culture more than I want to admit.  I confess my need of Your power and transforming grace in my life.  I confess that we as a church and as Your people can feel pretty smug and confident about our spirituality when in reality we are poor, blind, wretched, pitiful, and naked.  Jesus, You are my only hope.  You are the only hope of Your church.  And You are the only hope of the world.  

Give us a whole-hearted devotion to You.  And a desire for Your will and way in our lives.  Jesus as we place our trust in You, as we seek You with all our heart, may these words come to fruition in our lives:

God will do great things for those who trust in him. The reason why his professed people have no greater strength is that they trust so much to their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal his power in their behalf. He will help his believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in him and faithfully obey him. – {PP 493.2} – PP Ch. 45 - The Fall of Jericho

A Book of Tickets

The influence of this miracle, both upon the hebrews and upon their enemies, was of great importance. It was an assurance to Israel of God's continued presence and protection—an evidence that he would work for them through Joshua as he had wrought through Moses. Such an assurance was needed to strengthen their hearts as they entered upon the conquest of the land—the stupendous task that had staggered the faith of their fathers forty years before. The Lord had declared to Joshua before the crossing, "This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." And the result fulfilled the promise. "On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life." – {PP 484.4} – PP Ch. 44 - Crossing the Jordan

Assurance has a purpose... to give us the confidence needed to do God's bidding.  I have had friends who have talked to me a lot about how critical it is that we have assurance of salvation...  And I've thought to myself: "Why?"  

When I have thought about assurance, it has been from this perspective...  "My assurance is that Jesus is God.  He loves me.  He will do what He has promised to do.  All of the Father's promises are yes in Christ.  Christ is my assurance."

Now when it comes to me... and whether I have believed right or confessed right... I don't always feel too self-assured.  I guess you could say I'm Christ assured.  By that I mean... If my assurance rests in my faith, my confession, or my prayers... I don't know... But if Jesus is my assurance... than this I know... He is doing everything in his power to save me... and if I'm lost it won't be because of a short-fall on His part.  It will be something in me that refused Him... is that a cop out?  Maybe.  But this is what I know....  Jesus is awesome, faithful, powerful, and mighty to save.  He is my assurance... So I'm going to just turn my eyes to Him and trust that in the light of His glory and grace, the things of this earth will grow strangely dim...

All that being said... I want to tell the world that Christ is my assurance.  I want to move forward in the faith of His perfect sacrifice for me.  I want to confidently proclaim Him because He so confidently claimed me.  I am not my own, I have been bought with a price.  So in that sense I feel very confident, very assured... because I am no longer mine.  It's good to be out of my hands... so good.  So good to be in His hands.  Which by the way reminds me of a powerful, powerful quote:

Live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold you firmly by a hand that will never let go. Know and believe the love that God has to us, and you are secure; that love is a fortress impregnable to all the delusions and assaults of Satan. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Proverbs 18:10. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 119). 

I think the practical application of all this is... Look to Jesus.  Look to Jesus and Live.  And secondly.  Point to Jesus.  Point to Jesus that others may Live.  Ultimately assurance is so we can point to Jesus.  How can we share what we've never received.  And how can we promote what we've never bought into.  Assurance isn't a ticket to heaven.  It's a book of tickets.  It's so you can invite your friends, family, co-workers, and even your enemies.  Is your assurance more than an entrance for one?  Has it given you the confidence to go forward and take the land for Christ?  I hope and pray it is.  If not, you might need a little more assurance or maybe a lot more.  In that case... Look and Live!

Prayer:  Lord Jesus be my assurance today.  Embolden my witness with the confidence that what You did for me, You did for all.  Let my heart swell with compassion and care for the least and the lost.  Pursue them through me.  Love them through me.  Pray for them through me.  O Jesus, let Your assurance be alive in me as You seek and save.  I just want to be lost in You Jesus that You may use my life to bring Your salvation to many a man, woman, and child.  I surrender.  I die.  I say... dwell in my Holy Christ.  Amen!

More than Enough

Moses was a type of Christ. He himself had declared to Israel, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." Deuteronomy 18:15. God saw fit to discipline Moses in the school of affliction and poverty before he could be prepared to lead the hosts of Israel to the earthly Canaan. The Israel of God, journeying to the heavenly Canaan, have a Captain who needed no human teaching to prepare him for his mission as a divine leader; yet he was made perfect through sufferings; and "in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." Hebrews 2:10, 18. Our Redeemer manifested no human weakness or imperfection; yet he died to obtain for us an entrance into the Promised Land. – {PP 480.1} – PP Ch. 43 - The Death of Moses

Observation:  Like no other that I can think of, Moses' life illustrates the truth of Romans 8:28:  

"We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NKJV)

This friend of God was the recipient of justice and mercy; accountability on earth and acceptance into the Heavenly Kingdom above.  His life should sober us and inspire us.  Patriarchs and Prophets speaks of this sobering/inspiring reality in this same chapter on the life of Moses:

Never, till exemplified in the sacrifice of Christ, were the justice and the love of God more strikingly displayed than in His dealings with Moses. God shut Moses out of Canaan, to teach a lesson which should never be forgotten--that He requires exact obedience, and that men are to beware of taking to themselves the glory which is due to their Maker. He could not grant the prayer of Moses that he might share the inheritance of Israel, but He did not forget or forsake His servant. The God of heaven understood the suffering that Moses had endured; He had noted every act of faithful service through those long years of conflict and trial. On the top of Pisgah, God called Moses to an inheritance infinitely more glorious than the earthly Canaan. {PP 479.2}

Prayer:  Lord Jesus give me justice and give me mercy.  Give me accountability and give me gracious acceptance.  You are my all in all.  My Lord and my Savior.  My repentance and my renewal.  My conviction and my celebration.  All of You Jesus is more than enough for all of me.  For every thirst and every need.  You satisfy me with Your love.  And all I have in You is more than enough.  Praise Your Holy Name!

I Need Jesus

If we are conscious of our needs, we should not devote all our powers to mourning over them. While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we are not to yield to discouragement, but rely upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Look and live. Jesus has pledged his word; he will save all who come unto him. Though millions who need to be healed will reject his offered mercy, not one who trusts in his merits will be left to perish. – {PP 432.1} – PP Ch. 38 - The Journey Around Edom

Observation:  The greatest battle we will fight is a battle of the mind.  As Wayne Cordeiro has said, "the devil is a head hunter, our minds are the battle field, and our imaginations are his trophy."  And, as the enemy of our souls, Satan is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy.  He does this subtly.  He sneaks in when things are going fairly well, and plants seeds of doubt, seeds of criticism, and seeds of complaint.  Sometimes these seeds come under the guise of "constructive criticism..." just a wish that things were a little better.  But sometimes this pursuit of better, ends up leaving us bitter if we are not careful to pray, and to put our desires and needs before Christ.

Yesterday's reading goes along with these thoughts:

There is not an impulse of our nature, not a faculty of the mind or an inclination of the heart, but needs to be, moment by moment, under the control of the Spirit of God. There is not a blessing which God bestows upon man, nor a trial which he permits to befall him, but Satan both can and will seize upon it to tempt, to harass and destroy the soul, if we give him the least advantage. Therefore however great one's spiritual light, however much he may enjoy of the divine favor and blessing, he should ever walk humbly before the Lord, pleading in faith that God will direct every thought and control every impulse. – {PP 421.1} – PP Ch. 37 - The Smitten Rock...

Application:  I need Jesus.  I need Him every hour and every day.  My thoughts too easily become filled with fear.  To easily become filled with pride.  Too easily become about me, about success, about looking good, about anything and everything but Him.  I need Jesus.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus... Grant me Your merit today.  Cloak me in Your righteousness.  When I'm tempted to fret, fill me with faith.  When discouragement knocks at my door, let Your hope rise up within me.  When anxiety creeps in, let Your peace wash it away.

Jesus, You are my strength when I am weak, You are the shelter that I seek, You are my all in all.  

There is none like You Lord Jesus, I could search for all eternity long and find, there is none like You.

I worship You.  I adore You.  I declare that You are good.  I declare that You are Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End,  Pioneer and Perfecter of my faith.  Jesus perfect faith in me today.  Lift my eyes above the cares of this world to Your victory on Calvary's Cross, to Your ministry in Heaven's Court, to Your return in the clouds of glory.  Yes... I fix my eyes upon You Jesus... You endured the cross... for the sake of the glory that was set before You... You conquered sin and death... And now You sit at the right hand of our Father until He makes Your enemies a foot stool.   You are glorious.  You are wonderful.  You are my all in all.  I worship You dear Jesus.  I worship You.


Afterglow: If you would like to spend a few extra moments in worship, enjoy these songs of  adoration... They are quoted in the preceding prayer.