Wed.’s Devo - Be Strong and Courageous

Read: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26 Moses went to the top of Mount Nebo where he could see all the land of Israel that the Lord was giving to them on both sides of the Jordan. Moses died on that mountain in the land of Moab and God buried him in the valley near Beth-peor. No man knows where his burial place is. He was 120 when he died. He died healthy and strong. All Israel wept for him and mourned for 30 days. There had never been a prophet like Moses that God knew face to face and that did such wonders as Moses did in Egypt. *** Before Moses died, he had laid his hands and transferred the Spirit of wisdom upon Joshua. After they had mourned Moses’ death, Joshua told the people it was time to cross over the Jordan and take their land. God had told them that no man would be able to stand before them and as God was with Moses, he would be with Joshua. *** God commanded Joshua to be very strong and courageous, because God was with him to bring him success. Joshua told the people to prepare their food now because in three days they would cross over. Warriors from Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh would go with them to fight for the land, then they would be released to go home and enjoy their inheritance. *** Joshua first sent out two spies to Jericho. They came to Rahab’s house, who was a harlot. When the king of Jericho heard they were staying with her, they came to her house to get them. She told them that the men had just left and were probably still close. If they hurried, they might be able to catch them. She had really hid them under the thatch on her roof and when the soldiers left her house she let the spies out of her window with a scarlet rope. She made them promise to save her when they came back and took the city. They promised they would if she put the scarlet rope out of her window to identify which house was hers. *** Rahab told the spies how everyone had heard about them and were afraid of them. They had heard about Egypt, Sihon and Og and knew that the Lord was with them. The two spies went back to Joshua and reported this. *** In Luke, as Jesus was teaching, a man asked him if only a few would be saved. Jesus answered that they must strive to enter into the narrow gate. Once God stands up and shuts the door, no one will be able to enter in. Even those who ate and drank in Jesus’ presence and heard him teach in the streets will not be able to enter in because they never allowed their hearts to change and influence their lives. They would see the patriarchs of old from a distance but not be able to enter in. *** That same day, some of the Pharisees came to Jesus telling him to get out and leave because Herod would kill him. Jesus had just told about how God would cast them out of his kingdom and now the Pharisees are wanting to cast Jesus out of theirs. He told them to go tell Herod that he would stay and heal and cast out devils and then off the third day, he would be perfected. He was talking in code to say that he would work until it was time for him to die and then he would rise on the third day. *** Jesus also said that he must die in Jerusalem along with all the other prophets. He would not come again to see Jerusalem until it was ready to say, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.” *** As Jesus was going into the house of one of the Pharisees to eat on the sabbath, he saw a man who had the dropsy. The Pharisee was watching to see what Jesus would do. Jesus asked him if it was lawful to heal on the sabbath day. They remained silent. Then he asked them if one of their ox fell into a pit on the Sabbath would they not immediately pull him out. They refused to answer that one either. *** Lord, may we not be hypocritical like the Pharisees who couldn’t see because of the jealousy in their hearts. May we have clean hearts and a pure heart to embrace what you are doing today and participate. May we be strong and courageous!