Devotions

Friday: Which One Are You?

Meditate on Titus 3:3-8.

The Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. But the Israelites were slaves to sin because of their own disobedience to God. They were just like the people described in verse 3. It was their sin, not their slave masters, that separated them from God. That’s the dreadful condition of all who are not trusting Jesus.

As sinners, the Israelites didn’t deserve to be delivered from Egypt; they deserved God’s judgment. But God saved them! That’s remarkable! But why did God deliver the Jews? It wasn’t because of “good works they had done in righteousness”. They wouldn’t and couldn’t obey God. No, God saved them because of His own “goodness and lovingkindness” (v. 4) “according to His own mercy” (v. 5).

See what God’s salvation from sin includes: being “saved” from judgment; sins are forgiven (“washed”); a new life (“regeneration and renewal”); the Holy Spirit (“poured out richly”); declared righteous (“justified”); and an eternal inheritance and hope.

God gives this salvation to rebellious sinners who turn to trust in Jesus Christ alone, because Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people…” (Titus 2:14).

This weekend, we will see God’s great saving works for the Israelites. But we need to remember that they had to receive God’s promises by faith. God’s promise of salvation from sin and death must also be received by faith in Christ alone, trusting Jesus to take away your sin and turning away from your self-centered life to follow Jesus as Lord.

Are you among the foolish, disobedient rebels in verse 3? Or are you among God’s new people devoted to following Jesus in verse 8? You can be today.

Saturday: Where Does Courage Come From?

Read Joshua 1:1-9

While God chose Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt, He chose Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land. Now, it is time to go (v. 2).

We can imagine the kind of pressure Joshua must have felt. He had to lead the Israelites to take over a fortified hostile land though his “army” has had no formal military training and few weapons. He was the leader of a “stiff-necked” people who hadn’t even wanted to follow Moses.

To counter his fears, God promised Joshua that He had given them the land and the victory (vv. 3-5a). Three times! God’s promises were to protect Joshua from judging his circumstances based on what he saw. He had to view his task in light of what God had said.

Next, God makes great promises to Joshua (v. 5b, 6, 9b): God will always be with him to accomplish His good will. Joshua will never be alone. The God who created all things and possesses all power will never leave Joshua’s side. Joshua will know God and enjoy His presence. Earthly success cannot compare with that.

Still Joshua had to act. Three times God commands, “Be strong and courageous.” The courage God calls for is not some kind of inner strength that pushes away fear and makes one victorious. The courage God commanded comes from trusting God and His promises. It is the courage that comes when we place all of our hope in what God says He will do.

Another command is repeated (vv. 7-8): “Be careful to obey My word.” God has already told the people what to do. As they devote themselves to God and His way for them, God will give them success. Notice that these promises are conditional. As they walk in God’s way they will enjoy success. If they go their own way, they will leave the path of success. They will leave God.

Isn’t it easy for us to feel overwhelmed ? Our burdens can seem so great that we doubt that we shall ever overcome them. It is then that we need to remember God’s word to Joshua’s lesson:

God’s people walking in God’s way will receive God’s promised success.

Joshua’s success did not depend upon him. All that God called Joshua to do would be accomplished by God. We, too, must trust God to complete His good will in us. Fill your heart and mind with God’s word and promises. Trust Him. Then, be strong and courageous and walk in His way. God will fulfill His promises in you.

Sunday: Can I Be with God?

Sometimes it seems we live in a world of endless demands: School, work, parents, spouses, friends, chores, the body (diet, exercise, rest), church, and more. Then there are our phone’s demands: “Play me! Watch me! Look at me! Listen to me! Shoot me! Text with me! Call someone!” (how novel!).

So, it goes. On and on it goes, leading one poet to sing: “There never seems to be enough time, To do the things you want to do once you find them.” If you could lay aside your phone and your responsibilities any time you wanted, what would you do with that time?

Read Revelation 7:13-17.

God’s children will one day enjoy perfect rest, peace and joy in God’s presence. In that day, there will be no physical barriers to God’s presence. There will be no trials or sorrows to impede our enjoyment of God. There will be no sin to keep us from God’s beautiful, mighty, satisfying presence. And there will be no end to that day.

That day is as sure as today. Christ will return. He will destroy the devil, death, and sin. He will gather His church to Himself before God’s throne.

I hope that your robe has been washed in the blood of the Lamb and that you are eagerly awaiting that day. But must we wait until then to enjoy resting in God’s presence? God says no. We can know His presence today.

The songs of King David can help us. The Psalms tell us of the joy, comfort, and peace we can find in God’s presence. We can live today in the presence of our great Shepherd (Psalm 23). God invites us to dwell in His presence.

It’s no wonder that David’s chief desire, was to have more of God:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple (Psalm 27:4).

David had experienced God as his greatest treasure. David shows us that our highest and most urgent pursuit should be God. It must be God.

Like Moses and Joshua, God has given us work to do. But the great wonder is that we can be living with God even at school and work. When we do our work to worship God, we are with Him and He is with us.

But we also need time with God in private. We need devoted, intentional time to pour out our hearts to God in prayer and song. And we need to hear God speak His word and His will into our hearts. If we will ask God to make Him our great desire, we will by faith begin to seek His presence.

You don’t have to wait for heaven to live in God’s presence. You can enjoy His presence today. Since Christ has made a way for us to enter His presence today (Hebrews 10:19-25), let us draw near to Him today.