Scripture Nugget 3.21.2016

“I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of vineyards and olive-yards that you did not plant. ‘Now therefore revere LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’ Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; … Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.’ But Joshua said to the people, ‘You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and swerve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.’ And the people said to Joshua, ‘No we will serve the LORD!’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’ He said, ‘Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.’ The people said to Joshua, ‘The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey.’” Joshua 24:13-16, 18c-24

The grace of God precedes all we/I do, God loves us/me long before we/I love God. We are able to love because God first loved us, we are able to respond to God’s grace because of God’s grace. This passage reminds us through Joshua’s exhortation to the Israelites that God is the subject of worship, not idols because God is the creator, the provider, the giver of life and life support. We/I am to serve God only. Joshua leads his family to do so, he declares publicly they will do so; then Joshua leads the people to declare to do so 3 times in succession (18c, 21b, 24b). Here at the beginning of Holy Week, the home stretch of the Lenten season, is a great time to assess who we/I really serve. Do I really serve God, or a bank account – mine personally or that of the local congregation or some mission or ministry? Am I willing to forego personal desires to feed hungry families by cooking and taking them a meal, or serving at a feeding ministry? Am I more interested in fundraising with no purpose other than to build a bigger balance or to feed, clothe, house, care for those who need? Who do I worship? Who do I listen to? Who are what dictates the desires of my heart and the thoughts in my head? If anyone other than God, then I am allowing myself to be separated from God. O Lord, reveal to me those situations where I am off track, where my focus is unclear, where I have talked myself into something that is not about you, not about making/developing disciples of you, that is not about transformation to Christ likeness.

Scripture Nugget 3.20.2016

“Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to their ancestors that he would give them; and having taken possession of it, they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their ancestors; not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21 43-45

                                                                          Wesleyan

Core Term - Love of God Every time the Wesley brothers celebrated Holy Communion, they prayed for God to cleanse the thoughts of their hearts that they might perfectly love God and worthily magnify God’s holy name. Nothing superseded the most important commandment of all, namely, to love God with one’s whole, heart, soul, mind, and strength. The Wesleys realized, however, that God’s most important law was also God’s most amazing gift: “We love because God first loved us.” In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we encounter that “love divine, all loves excelling,” to use Charles Wesley’s words. We meet a God who is all compassion – pure, unbounded love. This revelation overwhelmed the Wesleys with a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to walk in the way of Jesus – to love and serve God in all things. Those who are enabled by God’s grace to reciprocate love in this way ultimately find in themselves lost in wonder, love and praise. - Wesley Study Bible pg 290

“Not one of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” O that there be nothing keeping me from the love of God and from loving God first, most and always. Forgive me Lord, cleanse me that I may be in your presence, that I live into your promise and am made complete by you and do your will completely, leaving nothing undone.

Scripture Nugget 3.19.2016

Scripture Nugget 3.19.2016

“Yet the Manassites could not take possession of those towns; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land. But when the Israelites grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. Joshua 17:12-13 regarding the western half of the tribe of Manasseh.

“And Joshua said to them, ‘If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear ground there for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.’ … ‘You are indeed a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, an though they are strong.’” Joshua 17:15, 17b-18.

Inheritance from God comes with responsibility. Just as Adam and Eve were to “keep and till” the Garden, the Israelites had the responsibility to not only enter in the land (the tribes their portions) but to take possession of, to make the land useful and to drive out those presently occupying the land and cities. Why drive them out? Because they worshipped other gods, many of their practices were abominations to God. God did not want the Israelites to be tempted to fall into those practices, thus separating God’s chosen people from God. We/I have a responsibility to respond to God’s grace, to choose to accept that grace, live in and under that grace and to share that grace with others. To “keep and till” the gift given by God. O that I would always do so. Even though that means picking up, carrying and living out the Cross Christ asks me to bare.

Scripture Nugget 3.18.2016

“They did not, however, drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer: so the Canaanites have lived within Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.” Joshua 16:10

Not ridding the land of the Canaanites will negatively affect the tribe of Ephraim and the entirety of Israel for years to come. This is an example of lack of complete obedience, and of compromising with the enemy. As we live in this present day on the far side of the cross and the empty tomb the idea of driving out others seems harsh. While God welcomes us (sinners) and commands us to do the same; God also commands to teach all that Jesus taught, that each must believe in Jesus as Savior thus being forgiven of sin and beginning the transformation to Christ likeness. Not forced to do so but voluntarily choosing to accept and believe in Christ. Not driving the Canaanites out will haunt the Israelites for years/generations to come. In this Lenten season; I must ask myself, who and what is near me that I have allowed to remain close that I should drive out? And if I am unable to drive out, must ask God’s help to do so? Leaving them close is to invite temptation, is to be less than completely obedient. God is with us, God invites us to be with Him however we cannot be in His presence and remain disobedient, impure, and unholy. It is impossible for us to enslave and control sin but God has defeated sin! Thanks be to God, thanks be to the Son who is my Savior, thanks be to Holy Spirit whose power strengthens me in my weakness and keeps me from temptation. O God that I would always call on you to drive away the Tempter, to rid me of temptation and weakness before I get myself in trouble. That I be completely obedient and responsive to Your Grace.

Scripture Nugget 3.17.2016

Scripture Nugget 3.17.2016

“Now Joshua was old and advanced in years; and the LORD said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land still remains to be possessed. … I will myself drive them out from before the Israelites; only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.’” Joshua 13:1, 6b-c.

There is always more to be done, it is God’s work being accomplished. As I grow older am I raising up replacements, as Moses did with Joshua? Others who follow and obey God? Jesus calls us to continue the effort; “All authority I heaven and on earth has been given to me, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 The Son, just like the Father is always with us leading the way, clearing the obstacles. The question for me at least, during this Lenten season, is am I aware of what God is doing ahead of me, am I following, am I doing my part? Or have I settled, being satisfied with a partial inheritance? O Lord that I remain with you until I am completely and wholly sanctified, that I may receive the entirety of the inheritance, the gift of complete salvation you have in store for me. And that I share you with others so they too may receive.

Scripture Nugget 3.16.2016

“On the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.’ And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded a human voice; for the LORD fought for Israel.” Joshua 10:12-15

Joshua prays to God in public, in the hearing of others; he commands the two lights that God created to stop. That is faith! Faith that God is listening, faith that God is truly on his side, faith to be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18, 10:25), faith that God will act and reorder the way of creation. The result? “the LORD heeded a human voice”. O God I believe, help me in my unbelief! That I would always, with faith, ask things that are impossible, not hoping they come to pass, but believing You will make them happen. That you are on my side, which you are; the question in this Lenten season is what sin in my life separates me from You that prevents my being so bold and courageous? Show me God, so I may confess and repent.

Scripture Nugget 3.15.2016

Scripture Nugget 3.15.2016

“Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.’ And Achan answered Joshua, ‘It is true; I am the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel. This is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted then and took them. They now lie hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.’” Joshua 7:19-21

Unholy eyes lead to unholy desire and action. But notice what is done with the stolen items, they are hidden from sight, hidden from others, they are of no use to anyone. Hiding things from ourselves and others leads to stress and worry of being found out. No different than doing things in the dark, behind closed doors where no one can see. But God sees and Holy Spirit knows. In this case, as is often the case, the sin of one affects many. God commands the evil be purged, in this case Achan was stoned to death. O God that I see with clear, clean eyes, that I not be lead into deeper and deeper actions against you, causing me to be separated from you and others. During the rest of this Lenten season reveal to me when I look with unholy eyes.

Scripture Nugget 3.14.2016

“While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.” Joshua 5:10-12

What joy for those who could remember the first, the original passover! How exciting to experience a full diet of the produce of the land! How intimidating if the gathering of manna is all you knew? O that I am willing to learn and practice the “old” ways of God and possess the faith required to trust in new things! That I help others remember whose we are and who we are in God.

Scripture Nugget 3.13.2016

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5b-9 A new leader and new leadership opportunities are to be embraced not feared. God is with us in both situations as God was in the previous ones. New stages of the journey require continued faith within the previously established boundaries until clear evidence is given that God has expanded those boundaries. God’s book of law doesn’t change though we may be asked to keep the laws in a new place with new peoples. God is with us, will we be with God? O that I can and will always in every circumstance answer yes!

Scripture Nugget 3.12.2016

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel; ‘Be strong and bold for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their ancestors to give them; and you will put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’” … “Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD’s command. …. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended. Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 34:5, 7-9

What a great model of leadership and transition for the local church. Established leaders, raise up and mentor younger ones to become leaders. The elder ones realizing though they have led for X number of years, they may not be the one responsible to lead into the next stage of the journey. Though the congregation mourns the loss of the older leader, the time of mourning comes to and end then they follow the new one. O that all transitions of leadership in local congregations (I write from the perspective of an UMC clergy) be smooth. O that I be satisfied with the stage the Lord asked me to be a part of and that always anoint the one who follows me in the presence and witness of the congregation. That I always be strong and bold in every situation, every stage, and every place the Lord sends me.