Mon.’s Devo - Total Abandonment

Read Josh 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Ps. 89:14-37 The three tribes on the other side of the Jordan were being reprimanded for building an altar to sacrifice on. The other tribes were ready to come and wage war on them. They explained that they were never going to sacrifice on their altar or worship it but that it was to remind them who their god was. They wanted their children to have a visible reminder of God. Phinehas, the priest heard their explanation and was pleased that they were not sinning against God so he went back and shared with the other leaders on the other side of the Jordan. Once again there was peace in the camps. Joshua was old and about to die so he delivered his parting words. He reminded them to cleave to the Lord and love him with all their hearts. He also warned them against marrying women from the nations they had driven out. The Sadducees try to trick Jesus into taking sides about the issue of the resurrection since they didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus not only set them straight about the resurrection, but He told them not all people will make it. At the end of His speech He condemned them. They stopped asking Him questions after that. This makes me wonder how close I am willing to get to breaking God’s laws. The Gadites, Reubenites, and Manassites built an altar which was wrong, but their reasoning was right. The Sadducees were great reasoners of the law but missed the heart of God in it. God would rather have our total abandonment to our ways and acceptance of His rather than our good intentions. Lord, help us to be totally surrendered to Your will today.