RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Suggested Reading: Joshua 19-20
(click scripture link to read online)
These are the ancient walls of the main city of the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:40-48), located in northern Israel near the base of Mount Hermon and the source of the Jordan River. When Lot had been taken captive, Abraham and 318 of his servants pursued him as far as the city of Dan (Gen. 14:14). The Canaanite city of Laish had existed on this site over 5,000 years ago. Joshua had led his troops through this area and sometime after Israel captured this city, the name was changed to Dan. It became the northernmost city in the nation of Israel.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Joshua 19:49 & 20:4
When they had made an end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun…When he flees to one of those cities…and declares his case…they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place…
Two facts stand out to me from our reading. First, Joshua put others first and did not ask anything for himself. The general agreement of the people resulted in Joshua’s inheritance. Our Joshua, Yeshua (Jesus), has put us first. We could ask ourselves the question, What is His portion? Imagine the joy Joshua felt when the people came together after the distribution of land was settled, and the people honoured him. We read of our Yeshua, “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). He put us first. How can we do less than put Him first?
Second, when the avenger was chasing the one who accidentally had killed someone, the one being chased could flee to a safe city. When the accuser (Satan) or anyone else is out to deliberately do us harm, we flee into the refuge of the strong arms of Jesus and we are safe. Read Hebrews 6:17-20 and flee for refuge.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, You’ve provided for my life now and, in the age to come, eternal life. You put me first before Your own rights as God’s Son. I can do no less than determine to put You first at all times and places. You’ve also given Yourself to me as a refuge into which I run in times of trouble. I ask for grace to give myself to You 24/7, holding nothing back. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Back in 1992, when we were about to open our new state-of-the-art, 143,000 square foot television production centre, a reporter interviewed me and wrote in his prominent magazine approximately the following: “David Mainse is hanging on to his sanity by his fingernails.” The costs had gone far above original estimates, and then there were commitments to our pavilion at World Expo ’92 in Spain for a Christian pavilion which was already opened, operating, and was bringing thousands to Christ. We were in big trouble. Many, many prayed for me, but I want to single out two that come to mind just now. Dave Toycen, President of World Vision Canada, came to see me and prayed personally and fervently for me. Brian Stiller, at that time President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, also came to my aid. They helped me flee into the refuge of God’s love and grace. Brian declared with certainty, “The people of Canada won’t let you down!” He then offered to travel with me across Canada to meet hundreds of Pastors in various cities. Many Pastors, as a result, voiced their conviction that Crossroads/100 Huntley Street was essential to our country. Offerings flowed in. The crisis was resolved. Needs were met. God and His people are my City of Refuge. Thank You to all who opened the gates of the City of Refuge for me and cared for me and Crossroads at a time of crisis.
Yours for opening the gates of our hearts to those who are running our way for refuge,
David
This brings to mind the well known verse, Romans 8:28 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”
Powerful message, today, David. It is evidence of your having had complete faith and trust in God, no matter how overwhelming the move to a larger facility in Burlington seemed at the time–you still followed His lead. God brought Dave Toycen and Ben Stiller as the angels you needed, to surrender in prayer to Him for financial help, thus making His plans feasible through the generous donations of Christians across Canada.
You are an example, as Moses and Joshua were, of stepping out in faith–for His glory. People, like the newspaper reporter, will throw stones; but when God is at work, He will see it through. Yes, indeed, God is our safe house of refuge as He was before, is now, and shall ever be! Amen!
“God is in every tomorrow, therefore, I live for today.
Certain of finding at sunrise, guidance and strength for the way;
Power for each moment of weakness, hope for each moment of pain,
Comfort for every sorrow, sunshine and joy after rain.”
Thank you Lord. X 100 trillion. We and the world need this teaching.
Scott that is the scripture that came to my mind
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge in strengh in ever present it the times of trouble”
God Bless you and your family David.
Lianne Hogg
Great minds think alike I guess Lianne! 🙂
Yes…! Romans 8 28 is a powerful promiss to those who are faith full in lifting
Up and exalting the precious name of JESUS. Even when I have fallen short
Of deserving GODS grace, GODS grace was not in short supply. Presently I found
my self in a situation not of my doing, but that became my situation, sort of by default. I said LORD … this could turn out financaly bad for our Co. But it’s your call. But I Sure did pray it would get resalved with out repracutions to our company.That was back in Dec.2012 .The day after the incident I when directly to the Provincial Office in Kingston to deal with it. The Officer had not filed it.
So I called back a week later still no record .I called twice a week ,everyweek
Since. Yesterday I received a call from the Provincial Office they said the ticket
Was refused for fileing no money is owed.WOW! GOD felt we did not deserve
that fine or his grace was extended to us in spite of the circumstances.I don’t know, all I do know is…
Through it all, week after week I clung to Romans 8 28.Thank you JESUS.
Amen
M.
Thank you, Jesus.
Dear David
Thanks so much for being so transparent and honest. When we have come to the end of our resources, God delights to show us what it means to have Him on our ‘side’..it’s so exciting. “Oh, victory in Jesus”!!!!
Thanks for your daily blogs. We enjoy them. We are praying for you. For some reason we have been receiving 2 blogs each day. We are blest twice!!!!!
Dear David,
The radiant smile that you gave us yesterday kept creeping up on me the rest of the day showing me once more how very present the Lord is in you.
As I was listening to Healing Atmosphere, from Lorne Matthews that you find at the E Store at Crossroads, I automatically wanted to send it right back to you and my fellow bloggers. Here is an excerpt Psalm 103: 1 – 5 Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.
God bless you.
Carole
Jeremiah 29:11 came to my mind. Thank you fellow bloggers for the scripture passages and the poem. God must come first, this is something I struggle with but I am grateful for God’s forgiveness that comes through the only Way,Truth and Life Jesus Christ John 14:6. and Heb.12:1,2 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus,the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
Thank you David for the years of Spiritual Leading and Blessings you gave to me every day on 100 Huntley Street Daily Programme. Now you are still blessing me and thousands more with your daily teaching blog. God Bless you abundantly. I am praying that our Heavenly Father will grant you complete healing.
God Bless you David and your family!!
Amen!! Amen!! & Amen!!