- And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.”Joshua 9:6 – Lies. These people actually were living very close by and were afraid of Joshua and the Israelites. They came up with this plan to deceive Joshua into thinking they weren’t his enemy by pretending to be something they were not. As sad as this is, this can happen to you as well. In your efforts to follow God faithfully, sometimes people will enter into your story pretending to be on your side yet really are only there with selfish motives. Am I saying to be suspicious of everyone who comes near you, not at all. What you should do though is what Joshua didn’t do. Seek God out in prayer about these people. If you’re unsure about their motives of whether to help or hurt your walk with God, talk with God about it. We all need people in our lives to help us grow to what we’re called to be, but it’s the right people that can help with that. If God is leading you away from someone, listen and obey. Your Heavenly Father knows best. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
- Joshua 9 Daily DEVO So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. Joshua 9:14 – When you’re unsure of something, talk with God about it. Clearly the people of Israel were uncertain about these strangers, doubting what they were saying was true. Yet even with this uncertainty they moved forward without consulting God on the matter. We to are going to run into situations that are confusing. What we do in those times and what decisions we make in those moments can be filled with uncertainty like we read in this chapter. Just remember the same God they could have sought counsel from is the same God we can seek counsel from in our uncertain times. God is present and free to ask questions to. Take advantage of what this amazing relationship Jesus died for you to have offers you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1173
- Joshua 9 – Pastor Mac Daily DEVO As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel. Joshua 9:1-2 – Now if you were to read this chapter, the focal point isn’t this multi-kingdom army waging war against Israel, but about the deception made by the people of Gibeon. While one group is seeking a fight and one is speaking lies, both are seeing what God is doing and coming against His people. In our efforts to remain faithful to Jesus, know we too are going to experience pushback against our faith. Some people will come harshly against us and some will seek to deceive us. There will be rumors, hate, persecution, and vileness thrown our way because of our faith in Jesus. How then are we to respond? With love, grace, and a readiness to share the message of salvation through Jesus with them. There is no type of pushback we can receive that will equate to a justified reason not to show love to someone. If Jesus, who was lied about, arrested, beaten, spat on, mocked, and killed, still demonstrated the greatest love anyone can show to another person to the very people that did all those things to Him, we can show love to someone even if they are mean to us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2468
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