Sat.’s Devo - Crossing Jordan

Read: Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28 Joshua brought the people to the Jordan where they camped for three days. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant set out first, and the people followed leaving a space of 2,000 cubits between them and the ark. Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves because tomorrow the Lord was going to do a great wonder in their eyes. *** The next day, Joshua commanded the priests to walk into the Jordan with the ark and stand still. God would do a sign for them to encourage them that He was going with them to drive out all the “ites” of the land. Joshua was to pick out a man from each tribe. *** As soon as the feet of the priests walked into the water, it stopped flowing from the town of Adam in the north of the Jordan. Then the people could walk over the dry ground just like them did at the Red Sea. *** The twelve chosen men were to take a stone from the midst of the Jordan and carry it on the other side in a heap. These stones were to be a memorial of that day. *** When everyone had crossed the Jordan, Joshua commanded the priests to come out of the Jordan. As soon as their feet stepped on dry ground, the waters came flooding back. The people feared Joshua like they had feared Moses when they witnessed this great miracle. *** This happened on the 10th day of the first month which is the month of Passover. The number 10 represents a test. This was a test to see if the people would trust the Lord and believe he was their God and could give them the land he had promised them. *** In Luke, Jesus was eating in the house of a ruler of the Pharisees. He gave them a parable about those who were invited to a wedding party. They were not to seek to sit in the seats of honor least someone more important than them come. Then, they might be asked to give up their seat and have to take a seat in the back. But, if they would begin at the back, maybe the host would honor them with a better seat in the front. Those who humble themselves, will be exalted, but those who exalt themselves will be humbled. *** Jesus told the man who had invited him to his house that he should invite those who cannot pay him back like the poor, crippled, lame and blind. He be reward for this in the resurrection of the just. *** One of the people at the dinner commented how blessed it will be when they eat at the Lord’s table in his kingdom. Jesus gave a parable about God’s kingdom and his table. In the parable, a rich man gave a great banquet but, everyone he invited gave excuses why they couldn’t come. So, the master invited the poor, crippled, lame and blind and filled his house with people. Sadly, the ones he had invited never got to taste his food. *** Of course, this parable was given to the person who said everyone would be blessed who eat bread in the kingdom of God. It was also given to other Pharisees sitting at that table. They would probably never get to eat food at God’s table. *** Jesus explained who would be able to enter into his kingdom. It was those who have counted the cost and been willing to lose it all for the sake of gaining the kingdom. Those who are not willing to pay the price would be cast out eternally. *** Lord, may we choose you every day, above our reputation and anything the world has to offer. You are much much greater!