Devotional Thoughts

Joshua 2:18     "Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee." Joshua 2:21     "And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window." Yesterday we saw the great statement of faith that was given by Rahab to the two spies who had been sent into the land. "I know that the LORD hath given you the land." She had greater faith than the 10 spies who had been sent into the land 40 years prior to this. They doubted. She knew. And not only did she know that God was going to give them the land, she dared believe that this same God would spare her and her family. Her house was on the wall which would soon be crumbling to the ground; yet, she believed God would have mercy upon her. I...

Matthew 13:1-2    " The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore." Our past several devotionals have all been about one single day in the life of Jesus. He cast out a devil from a blind and mute man and healed him. He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees over their self-centered and self-righteous behavior. By His actions, He proved to those gathered that He was sent from God and both spoke and did good things because they came from a good source. When His mother and brothers came to see Him, He used that as a moment to teach us that, as His disciples, we are all family to Him. The close of chapter twelve tells us that His mother and brother were waiting outside the house to see Him. I imagine this was because there were so many people already in the house there was no room for anyone else to come in. On this same d...

Joshua 2:9-11    "And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  (10)  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  (11)  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." "And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there." (Joshua 2:1) If we remember, one of the things that struck fear into the hearts of the 10 spies was the fact that Canaan had "great wal...

Matthew 12:46-50     " While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?   And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!   For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."   Jesus, as a man, was tempted in all points like we are (Hebrews 4:15). He never yielded to these temptations and therefore never sinned. We also know that He ate and slept like other men. He got tired and needed to rest (John 4:6, Mark 6:31). Jesus travelled with His disciples to their cities. He healed multitudes of diseases and cast out devils. He taught words of hope and comfort while contending w...

Joshua 14:11-14     "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  (12)  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.  (13)  And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.  (14)  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel." "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. ... Now therefore give me this mountain..." Caleb was a great ma...