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. (Joshua 1:6 NLT)

Reading Primer:

Psalm 38 - Sin Sick

King David, the author of this Psalm, was a man after God’s own heart, yet a very fallible man. His nearness to God made David very aware of his collective sins and their consequences. He also acknowledges that his sinfulness is grievous to a perfect and holy God, and he is burdened with the weight of his sin, even to the point of being sickened by it.

There are those who see this as a prophetic Psalm about Jesus. Jesus was made to be sin for us (I Corinthians 5:21), and this Psalm expresses the anguish of a perfect man taking on the collective sin of mankind and suffering under the burden of its awful judgment. Forsaken and condemned by God and man, the cry is for mercy and help under the vexing load imputed to Him. Under God’s judgment, he is withering, dying, alone, and unloved.

When we read this from Jesus’ perspective, we are struck by the utter hopelessness of one left in their sinful state. There is a cry for help from the only One that can or will help. In verse 21, the cry is for God not to forsake Him. God heard Jesus and accepted His sin-sick sacrifice as a propitiation, a substitute for judgment, for all who believe in Him. In turn, for Jesus taking our sin upon Himself, God imputed, freely given, the very righteousness of Jesus to those who come to Him in Christ, healing their sin-sick souls.

- Amazed by Grace, Jinet Troost

Marching Orders - Joshua 1:1-9

Moses died, and his second in command was now commissioned to take Israel into Canaan, the land promised to Abraham 450 years before. God was overseeing the Abrahamic Covenant to give His chosen people a land and a heritage. Toward the end of the book, it is written that God would declare,

“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45)

But right now, Joshua is on the banks of the Jordan River with a hostile nation on the other side. The significance of the picture before us should not be underestimated. Let’s begin with the name Joshua, Hebrew for Jehovah Saves; the name Jesus is the Greek counterpart and means God Saves. You may begin to see the picture here. Joshua is a type of Christ, ready to take His people into that land of sin that is hostile to the people of God. The Jordan River is a turning point. A decision is made, God’s people must move forward to claim that new life God has promised them.

The Jordan River is a picture of baptism, a turning point, and the promise of a new life for those who pass through the water. Before crossing over to the Promised Land, Joshua is told to be of good courage. Why? God promised to be with him and accomplish all He had promised. God will win the battles, but Joshua must have the faith to march and fight.

In the book of Joshua, all that live in the land of Canaan are a picture (type) of sin of every sort. God’s people are told to annihilate them. The spiritual picture is that after we have committed to following the Lord into His kingdom, we must remove every type of sin from our lives, no matter how costly, innocent, or difficult to let go of it may seem.

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, He was proclaiming it was time to march and fight.

- Embraced by Grace, Jinet Troost

II Thessalonians 3 - Follow Me

At the end of his letters, Paul often makes some conclusive statements, as he does here. These statements are always helpful and full of insight. All of his observations should be read, but I am going to focus on one particular verse, seven. When I read this verse, I am reminded that Paul wrote in two of his other letters that others should follow or imitate him as he walked the walk: Philippians 3:17, I Corinthians 4:6, and 11:1a.

Every time I read this admonition, I have to pause and ask myself if I can say this as surely to others. Paul was writing to those who were newly Christian and had only his letters to be used by the Holy Spirit to guide them to sanctification. In this letter, he specifically addresses what came to be known as the Christian work ethic. He reminds them of the example he set when he was with them.

In his other letters, where he encourages others to imitate him, he talks about the Christian life in general, the living the Christlike life. Paul boldly says to all, if you want to know how to be like Jesus, follow me, imitate me. I have to ask myself if I can say this to all I know, especially those closest to me. What about little children, friends, or spouses? Would those near enough to observe my daily actions take issue? Does my life match my words?

We should all strive to be able to say, with Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” - I Corinthians 11:1

- Saved by Grace, Jinet Troost