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Thursday, 24. March 2005
They Became Like That Which They Took diane amberg, March 24, 2005 at 5:43:00 AM GMT
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Joshua 7--9 They Became Like That Which They Took Israel finally enters the land of Canaan centuries after God promised to give it to Abraham's descendants. The children of Israel have waited in Egypt for over four centuries until the time was right to enter the land. They traveled for forty years in the land between Egypt and the land of Canaan. Then it happens, they enter the Promised Land. Their first attack is a glorious success. They come to the second city, but the small army of Ai humiliates the army of Israel. What is wrong? How is it that God delivered weaponless Israel out of Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, brought them into the land of Canaan, and leads them to victory at the first city, but now they suddenly suffer a humiliating defeat? Here is part of God's explanation, 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you (Jos. 7:12). What happened was this. When Israel attacked Jericho, everything in it was dedicated to the Lord. That means that the children of Israel were not allowed to take anything for themselves. God always gets the first fruits. However, a man by the name of Achan took some things. There was now sin in the camp, and rather than their enemies being accursed, Israel is accursed. Now, the explanation from God in verse 12 makes sense. When we do not give God the first fruits, we cannot expect Him to bless us. If a congregation allows sin to go unchecked within it, that church cannot expect God to bless it. Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100 Be Certain diane amberg, March 24, 2005 at 5:41:00 AM GMT
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 1:1--20 Be Certain As Luke begins his account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he explains to Theophilus the reason for writing, saying, 4 ...that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed (Luk. 1:4). Knowing the writings of the Bible, and believing what those writings say, gives the reader assurance, as he or she has never had before. It is for this reason that I encourage you to read through the Bible every year, that I send out these e-mail devotionals, that I edit the monthly journal The Bible Meditator, and that I encourage you to visit the two links below for your further biblical literacy and certainty that the Bible is the truth. Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100 Let the Lord Magnify You diane amberg, March 24, 2005 at 5:39:00 AM GMT
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Joshua 4--6 Let the Lord Magnify You When Israel crosses the Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua, here is what happens in Israel's view toward Joshua, 14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life (Jos. 4:14). What do you think would have happened, if Joshua stood before the people and demanded that they honor him as they honored Moses? On the other hand, what did happen when Joshua simply did his job? What are you trying to do with the people around you? Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100 Do Not Fear diane amberg, March 24, 2005 at 4:49:00 AM GMT
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Joshua 10--12 Do Not Fear Five kings and their armies assemble to attack a city that has made peace with Israel. Therefore, Israel goes to the rescue of this city. However, facing five armies can be a frightening thing. Yet, God tells Joshua, 8 Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you (Jos. 10:8). How many times in the Bible, does God tell His people, Do not fear? We should fear God only. Yet, why do we fear man? Look at the passage above, and compare it with the reason that we fear. God says: Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you. We say: Fear them, for we are delivered into their hands; not one of us shall stand before them. When we fear man, then we cannot stand before man. However, watch a man who does not fear, and others shall not stand before him. Be fearless today! Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100 |
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Update on FMag Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com. by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM They Were His Servants by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM Having a Tender Heart by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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