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.

www.christiancourier.com

www.apologeticspress.com

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

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

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

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark chapter 16

The Apostles Do Not Believe

The Jews and the Romans do not believe in Jesus, that is why they conspired together to crucify Him. The apostles believe in Jesus, but there is something immediately after His death that they do not believe.

13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either (Mar. 16:13).

Jesus had appeared to two men, conversing with them about the Christ, and when they finally realize that Jesus is the risen Christ, they run to tell the remaining apostles. This is recorded in Luke chapter 24. Mark tells us in the passage quoted above that when the apostles hear from these two men, the apostles do not believe that Jesus is raised from the dead.

Why do they not believe? They witnessed Him perform miracles, including resurrections. He prophesied of His resurrection. He taught them from the Scriptures that it was prophesied that the Christ would be killed and resurrected. They have every reason to believe that He has been resurrected.

Yet, they also had preconceived ideas, dreams, and hopes about Him, the kingdom, and their part in it. With His death, those hopes are dashed. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. So sick that it will refuse to believe the truth. However, this was their fault. They set themselves up for disappointment.

Regardless of what happens to you and regardless of how you think things should be, always believe the Scriptures.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Joshua 1--3

Forty Years of Training!

We do not know what Joshua did previous to Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage, other than being a slave, but listen to Joshua 1:1,

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant (Jos. 1:1).

From then on until his death, Joshua is leader of Israel. He assisted Moses for forty years. Whether he needed that much time for training, observing, and learning, or whether it was just a matter of Moses needing an assistant and Joshua was the man, I do not know, but those forty years were preparing him for an awesome job when Moses died. God is in no hurry, but does things according to His own schedule. Joshua learned much, he is still learning, and he has much still to learn. Do you think that way about yourself?

Stay with it. God is preparing you for many things. Perhaps you have already done many of those things. Who knows what lies ahead? Continue to learn as Joshua must have done, and God will use you for something small or great, nevertheless, He will use you.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100