SETTLERS
Suggested Reading: Joshua 16-17
(click scripture link to read online)
Just east of Jericho, beside the Jordan River, is a church that commemorates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This is also the area where the Children of Israel crossed into the Promised Land.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Joshua 17:13
And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.
In the worship of their gods, the Canaanites followed evil practices such as killing their children and offering them as sacrifices. In their temples, as an act of worship, they committed fornication, adultery, pedophilia, and perverted sexual acts. God knew, as history will prove to us over our readings of the next seven books, that such corruption would soon influence His people. The “forced labour” would soon become “spiritual and moral saboteurs!”
We may want to ask ourselves, “How are we being influenced by the culture in which we live?” Do we tolerate more easily fornication, adultery, and homosexual practices? Does pedophilia produce a revulsion as it once did? Are we as horrified as we once were at the slaughter of the innocent little lives in abortion? Aren’t these lives that should have the protection of the state? Is there a general decline in personal and public moral standards? If we answer “Yes,” then we are following the path of Israel. The story of the decline (over and over) of Israel should be a dire warning to us in the 21st century.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I repent for willingly tolerating moral rot in my generation. You are the Judge in the final analysis, and I must “hold the truth in love.” However, I pray that I will, by Your grace, hold Your standard for human behaviour high, loving people unconditionally, and hating the sin that Your Word declares will ultimately destroy the people You and I love! I weep as I pray for my seven great-grandchildren in the face of the destruction of the values which sustained my parents in wars, financial collapse, and in family life. God, please help us to be loving and strong in our convictions on right and wrong. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In some of the recent pictures my son Reynold has taken for us, they show layer upon layer of City Centres which have been built and destroyed over and over. In our next book to read, we’ll find that Israel was destroyed by surrounding armies and then rebuilt seven times. Of course the rebuilding did not occur until they had repented of taking on the sinful practices of the people around them. I want to learn from history. It may have been the historian Will Durant who said, “The one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history.” I believe that in my own life I can prove that statement wrong. When I took a strong stand in support of the word “marriage” to be for man/woman unions only, the Lord clearly said to me, “David don’t speak out on this issue unless you have the same attitude Abraham had toward Sodom.” Abraham prayed fervently for their protection. He risked his life for them in war. He introduced them to the King of Righteousness, Melchizedek, a man who represented God (Genesis 14). I cried out to God for Abraham’s attitude, and I believe I received this grace. It was a losing cause, but the struggle for God’s standards will not end until God says, “The End.”
Yours for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven,
David
The Lord has set the standard high for His people; He wants His people to live lives of righteousness. No it’s not easy sometimes, but He has promised that the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us into all righteousness. I believe that today, we need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ as never before; the distractions are many and the days are numbered. “…thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
I believe in what you said Scott
Lianne Hogg
Children and youth once learned from stories passed down by families, attending church and hearing and reading bible stories. These forms of information served to enhance their personal identity. Unfortunately, today most information is media based and built upon teachings which subscribe to common norms of the new morality. This mass influx often results in an identity crisis for our youth. I trust in our Fathers sovereign power. Through relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit, I have hope morality shall be established through such avenues as Crossroads and parents with loving conviction and fortitude.
It is hard (heartbreaking) when one sees family caught up in the ways of todays culture. I just keep praying for the Lord to open hearts to receive Him and that He will bring them out of the darkness.
Good words, David, Scott and David. They cause us to examine ourselves, and to continually pray for our families, and society. In our churches, it is so important that the Word of God is being taught and not get off into trends of today. God bless you all.
It is up to each one of us to live by the teachings of Christ, and follow the discipline of the bible. Thanks be to David, who is setting that example with his life and ministry–this blog being a part of that. It allows us to grow and become stronger as Christians. As so many of us know, it isn’t always easy when the devil casts doubt and fear into things and sets difficulties in our way. Interpersonal relationships are not always easy–even within the church body, we struggle to get along with each other. I have been turning to Psalms for further strength. At the front of one of my favourite bibles (The Gideon), is a directory–Where to Find Help When…
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!”
Psalm 84:11-12, NASB
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me!
Job 19:25-27 NASB
David: Cannot wait to see the new 5 part series of the Bible starting on March 3rd (5 Sunday nights in a row!!). Hopefully on CTS Channel 51 in Edmonton!!
Hope you are well, praying for you!! Amen!! Amen!! & Amen!!
Nancy
Your 100 WORDS have been such a blessing. You are not alone! There are ones of us out there who stand up for covenant marriage, fidelity, and sanctity of life, as the LORD gives grace to be a voice in what seems like a wilderness. There is a growing audiance around about, especially young people, saved and unsaved, who desire to place their hope in a solid foundation. We know that that solid foundation is only JESUS CHRIST our Rock of Salvation.
The Power of the Gospel has not growin weaker, but sometimes I wonder about the state of the laborers…
-Are we overwhelmed?
-Have we allowed discouragement and buisyness to dampen our witness?
-Do we expect others or those who are missionaries, evangelists, preachers to be the labourers when GOD has placed the harvest field in front of us as individuals?
Fear is the enemy. Faith is fearless. Ask for grace to be a loving, faithful and fearless, witness for Christ!
Tamara
May the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on you David as you continue with your research and treatments, the inspiration and leadership from this blog, and the knowledge that you receive from the Holy Spirit. Thank you for walking where He leads you. Thank you for sharing what He teaches! Amen
Dear David and fellow bloggers
In time of discouragement I like to sing worship songs that literally pleases my soul and keeps me strong and focused on our perfect lamb Jesus
“As for me in my house
We will serve you …”
Obedience as we march all together till his return!
God bless you all
Hi David – I found you no problem
” It is Well With My Soul ” has been singing in my head for days. Its amazing how powerful music is.
Just a few comments re. ‘Names’, particularly Scriptural names. First, the
name Yeshua which you mentioned on Sunday is more properly interpreted
as Yahushuah. A Messianic student who has personally studied Hebrew for
many years has come to this conclusion. So, this is the Hebrew word (name)
transliterated to English. Remember, an individual name, in its original
language, does not require a change. We just need to know how to properly
speak the word/name in our own language (English). The meaning of that
word is of extreme importance. It means: “Yahweh (God) is Salvation”. Does
that not describe the Messiah’s ministry and purpose in coming to this world?
Every letter “J” that you read in the KJV is a false translation from Hebrew to English. There is no “J” sound in Hebrew. The Messiah was born and raised
in the Hebrew community. He would never have spoken any “J” words during His lifetime. The study of Hebrew names and places has totally opened my
eyes to what Scriptures are all about.
Good Evening, Matt.19:4-8 states very clearly what God intended marriage to be and thank you Tamara for your comments. We must be available to be used by God, to be salt and light. Thank you David !!!!