Reading With the People of God #7 CommitmentSample

Memorization Challenge:

6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous!Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9 NLT)

Reading Primer: Clinging to God with Hope

Psalms 59

The world seems to always be at enmity with believers. It opposes righteousness and, at times, actively destroys them. The most powerful weapons are words, and believers may, at times, find themselves under attack. This Psalm teaches us that we must cling to God. He is our strength and our hope. God promises our ultimate salvation and the destruction of our enemies.

Joshua 16

I am once again reminded of God’s attention to detail and that He will always do everything He says. Chapter 16 explains how every tribe was given its portion of the promised land just as was promised. We often think of Heaven and eternity in general terms, that everything will be better than we experience during our journey here on earth. Still, the day will come when our imagination will fall far short of the reward waiting for the redeemed.

James 5

Christ’s second coming is closer now than ever. How will He find us, asleep? Cold? Short on “Oil”? We, as members of a church, are in a great spot to shore up our faith, share in our burdens, and support fellow believers in our walk with Christ the Redeemer. Here, we hear again that we should pray without ceasing, which simply means that we need to be constantly aware of God’s goodness, power, strength, and love for us.

- Syp Vander Dussen, Sawdust Specialist