I love the book of Joshua. It is not because I am a war monger or because I revel in blood shed, there is a lot of both in this book. I love this book because in the midst of all the war there is a great deal of practical principles we can all live by.

In Joshua chapter 1 verses 6, 7, & 9 God states to Joshua three times, “Be strong and courageous.” The repetition of this phrase shows the importance of an idea. Now we would put an exclamation mark on a big idea, but in the Bible repetition is like an exclamation mark.

“Be strong and courageous” is God’s appeal, His command to Joshua but the appeal does not come without justification for why Joshua should be strong.

• Be strong and courageous: (v. 6) because I have made a promise years ago and I always keep my promises.
• Be strong and courageous: (vv. 7, 8) Joshua you will find all the strength and courage and at the end of it success through God’s Word.
• Be strong and courageous: (v. 9) because the Lord is always with you!

I like verse 8 of chapter 1: careful obedience to the Word of God requires careful study, “you shall meditate on it Day & Night”

In chapter 2 Rahab’s story is such a lesson of faith driven works for believers!

1. Rahab was a prostitute, but she ends-up in the family line of Jesus, Matthew 1:5
2. Rahab was a prostitute, but she is found in the Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11:31
3. Rahab was a prostitute, but James cites her as an example of justification by faith which produces works, James 2:25

In Joshua 2:3-6 are the actions that show the legitimacy of Rahab’s faith statement found in Joshua 2:9-11.

Some believe that the scarlet cord that Rahab was to hang-out her window has relation to the blood posted above the doorposts at the time of the Passover in Egypt.

Rahab should be a witness to us that God did not destroy one group simply to build-up another group. He saved all who were willing to be saved, Israelite and pagan.

I love 2:21, it is a mini-sermon on preparation for the second coming. The spies tell Rahab that if a red cord is not in the window when they return they will not be responsible for her death, so in verse 21 we read, “So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied a scarlet cord in the window.” Logically she had to have known they wouldn’t return that night, but she wasn’t going to miss out on not being ready. The moment they were gone she started to prepare for them to return. Jesus is in heaven right now, but we should be preparing like He is coming back immediately!

What a witness this woman is to us!

In the last chapter of our reading today, chapter 5 I love the final verses! They leave with us an important truth to remember.

“Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

Joshua here encounters the pre-incarnate Jesus Himself, and just like Moses he is told to remove his shoes because the ground is holy.

But what I love about this text and I believe other versions than the NASB capture it a little better, Joshua asks the individual “whose side are you on?” And the NASB translates it, “No” but what the Lord was saying is, “neither”

This is a good point for us to remember. God is not on my side or your side. He’s not on the Christian side or the Muslim side. God is on His side and He calls us to join Him, to follow Him, to recognize His holiness letting Him lead the way.

Tomorrow’s reading: Psalms 1 & 2

Before I begin with my official blogging of today’s reading, I want to let you know these blog posts are not going to be of sermonic quality…maybe you want to leave now? What I will be writing in these blogs is what touches my heart, my mind. What questions I have. You’ll find sometimes I won’t have the answers to those questions, and if that bothers you I apologize. Basically what I’ll be blogging are the thoughts that I’ve written in the margins of my Bible like this:

For those of you that may be wondering, I am doing my daily devotions primarily in the New American Standard Bible but I also have a New Living Translation (they call it a translation, though I would say the word “translation” should be used loosely in regards to the NLT), I am not necessarily a fan of the NLT for exegetical study…I haven’t actually read the NLT since I was a Senior in academy…but I am using it because this edition of the NLT uses not only red letters in the New Testament, but also blue letters in the Old Testament to highlight references to Jesus or texts related to something Jesus did or said in the New Testament. I really love it and am glad one of my elders told me about this “Jesus Centered” Bible.

So here we go…If you’re still with me up to this point I hope you’ll join me all 365 days. Oh and please comment on these posts if you so desire. Keep the comments kind and kosher. Comment on the text not at the individuals that may also comment please…

Okay…day 1

Romans chapter 1 & 2

Romans 1: 3, 4: Jesus’ birth shows His humanity (v.3) His resurrection shows us His divinity (v. 4)

Romans 1:12 is a beautiful reminder of one of the great purposes of the church and why no one should think being a loner Christian is truly productive. Paul wanted to connect with the Roman Christians so they could be encouraged by him and he by them.

The doctrine of a literal 6-day creation and God/Jesus (John 1) as creator is being attacked. I believe it is because the devil knows that God’s creation reveals “His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power, and His divine nature (character)” (Rom. 1:20)…the saddest thing about these attacks, people within the church are assisting the world and thus assisting with the machinations of the devil. SMH. The Bible has a word for these folk, FOOLS (Rom 1:22).

I see vv. 23, 24, 26, 27 as a result of denying God as creator. I see vv. 25 & 28 confirming this truth. “exchanged the truth of God for a lie…worshiped creature rather than creator.” (v.25); “they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer” (v. 28) Why? Romans 1:20 Because they ignored the evidence of God seen through creation.

Two sins Paul mentions: idol worship (vv. 23, 24) and same gender sexual relations (vv. 26, 27).

Was Paul inspired to highlight these two sins because they aptly illustrate in their own manifestations the consequences of denying God as ultimate creator and thus our ultimate authority?

Idol worship in this context is actually worshiping something that is crafted…CREATED…by the hands of men. Making man the creator and thus all powerful, thus the authority.

Same gender sexual relations denies the creative power that God gave us and is an attack against what is the pinnacle of the sixth day of creation (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18-25).

I do not believe Paul was highlighting same gender sexual relations because it is a “greater sin” as some purport.

In fact it is almost as if Paul anticipated some would feel this way…so then he lists, while not highlighting, but he still lists a bunch of other sins. A list that includes many sins I think we’ve all committed at some point or another: “gossiping (guilty), disobedient to parents (guilty), unloving (guilty), unmerciful (guilty)” and I’m sure we could throw in many others I’m guilty of.

And here is the real dagger for any of us that only want to condemn one of the two sins Paul highlighted Paul doesn’t just say the first two sins, idol worship and same gender sexual relations are worthy of death, v. 32 “that those who practice such things” Which things? All of the above and more I’m sure! “are worthy of death.” And wow this really hits me, by embracing certain sins and being okay with certain sins we embrace ALL the sins “they not only DO THE SAME, but also give HEARTY approval to those who practice them.”

Are we gossips? It is as if we had homosexual sex…yep that is how I read Romans 2:1, “Therefore you have no excuse, EVERYONE of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge PRACTICE the SAME things.”

This fits with James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

But then Paul as if he would know that then people would say, “see, see, don’t judge me for my sin.”

Turns to that crowd and states, “do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.” (Rom. 2:4)

Paul here tells one group “if you deny your sins by judging others and not looking at your own you’re guilty.” To another group he then says, “If you don’t think you need to repent (confess and turn away from) as a result of the kindness and patience of God you’re guilty too.”

In closing what struck me during this reading is something I was convicted to do as I read Romans 2:17-29…maybe you’d like to do the same.

Every time Paul writes “Jew” insert the word “Adventist.” And then when I read the word “circumcision” I replaced it with the word “Sabbath”—though probably any doctrine that you know at times you judge others in you could put in there…that just happens to be mine.

Verses 28 & 29 of chapter 2 bring context to all the statements regarding law keeping in Romans 1 & 2.

If someone read all of this (Romans 1 & 2) and thought, “oh I have to work harder to keep the law,” they’d come to verses 28 & 29 of chapter 2 and realize if it isn’t out of a response from my heart…if it is just a rule…if it is just a law…if it is just about doing right to earn something…if it isn’t a response of my heart to the invisible attributes, the eternal power, and the divine nature of God then it is all for naught!

“For he is not a Jew (Adventist) who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision (Sabbath) that which is outward in the flesh (attendance at church). But he is a Jew (Adventist) who is one inwardly; and circumcision (Sabbath keeping) is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”

Do you want more joy & faith in 2016? Would you like to make better decisions in your professional, family, and private life in 2016 than you did in 2015? Would you like to know there is ONE thing the devil can never take away from you? All of these are reasons to daily spend time reading the Bible in 2016.

This is the message I shared with my the Spencerville Church family this past Sabbath (Saturday December 26th, 2015). You can listen to that sermon here when it posts in a couple days or watch it here again in a couple days.

At the conclusion of my sermon I challenged our congregation to read through the entire Bible with me in 2016. I admitted to my church family that I need accountability on this journey. That accountability is going to come in the form of this blog. Every day I will be blogging through the reading from scripture I have done for that day. I invited members and now I invite you that are reading this and would like to join myself and the Spencerville Church on this journey, to feel at liberty to harass me if I miss a day.

The reading plan I will be following is not a straight line from Genesis to Revelation. I have done that in the past and wanted a new look at things, so I will be using this plan. What I like about this plan is that I will be in a different genre of scripture every day, with Sabbath being a day spent in the Gospels, which seems very appropriate!

If you’d like to join me I’d encourage you to start with the same plan.

Please pray for me as I go on this journey and let me know if you’re joining us and I’ll pray for you as well.

Look for the first post on Romans 1 & 2 this Friday morning January 1st.