Meditation

02/01/2023

“Now Ii am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14)

Present day secular history has no thought of God directing the events. The theology of Joshua is that God is involved in directing human history. God fulfills His promises. God can be trusted by His people. In His grace, God gave Israel the land and fulfilled all His promises even when Israel did not fulfill their commitments. Salvation is sure because of God’s grace and faithfulness to His promises.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Dear Abba, You have never made a false promise. You have never made a promise and then decided not to fulfill it. Abba, when You make a promise, it is an absolute guarantee, because it fits into Your will and purposes for us, so it is another example of the reason Your desire a relationship with us. In the meantime continue to pray our troops serving in faraway lands and those in the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, that the recent offer from Ukraine for finding a peaceful solution brings Russia to come and work for a peaceful conclusion to the fighting. We also pray for those around this country and around the world who are suffering under persecution and natural disasters and man made disasters, hoping You will protect all. We also pray for those who are suffering from the loss of loved ones, for all who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, and for those we don’t know. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“You can learn something from every person you encounter.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of you youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you. So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (Ezekiel 16:60-63)

Embarrassment and shame were all Judah had earned. They deserved punishment and destruction. God gave new life in a new covenant. Why? Because He is the faithful God committed to the election of His people and ever willing to start over with a new, humbled remnant. Election teaches God’s faithfulness in creating a people to be His people and to serve Him as their God. Beloved, God promised to established and everlasting covenant with Israel in which He would make atonement for their sins. Sodom and Samaria are included in the new covenant. If there is hope for Sodom, there is hope for all. God was progressively setting the stage for a once for all atonement for the sins of the world in the death of His Son.

SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” (Haggai 2:5)

Haggai was able to fire up the people with enthusiasm and courage to complete the Temple. He based this motivation on the promises in God’s covenant. God’s election assured them of God’s approval and presence as they sought to rebuild the Land of Promise. Election points to God’s faithfulness to encourage and assure the faithful remnant.