March 2023 – Sonshine's Journal

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

Shine for Jesus today; and every day!

Judges 3-5 In Judges, we see the fickle hearts of God’s children, and it is the same for us today. We are a fickle, fearful people. What are we afraid of when God is at our side? Prov 29:25 tells us that if we fear men, then that fear will be a snare to us, but in contrast, if we fear God, we will be exalted, given prominence among the lost of this world. The study note on the NET Bible says this means: “The image of being set on high comes from the military experience of finding a defensible position, a place of safety and security, such as a high wall or a mountain. Trusting in the Lord sets people free and gives them a sense of safety and security”

Do I trust God so that this would be my testimony today?

The closing verse of Judges 5:31 tells us: “May all your enemies perish like this, O Lord! But may those who love you shine like the rising sun at its brightest.” And then you and I will experience peace!

Where am I, and where are you shining for Jesus today?

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023

Vigilance!

Judges 1-2 Are we a Promise Keeper?

Peter told his readers to be vigilant because their adversary, a.k.a Satan, roams about seeking whom he can devour. [1Pet 5:8] Before Joshua died, he had forewarned them that they would not keep worshiping the Lord. And just as he said, they began to worship the idols. The angel of the Lord warned the Israelites about the dangers of making agreements with the Canaanites. And when they heard the words of the angel of the Lord, they wept. [Judges 2:4] When God reveals our sin, do we weep?

Joshua and his words now have come full circle. It will be a pattern from the beginning until the end of the book. When the enemies entered the land, the people would cry out to God. In his graciousness, He used judges to guide them, but when the judge died, the nation reverted to idolatry once again. The lesson from Judges is that a one-time promise does not mean a total commitment. What does our heart reveal?

There are several lessons for us in just these two chapters. 1. We must be on guard. We must have our spiritual armor on. 2. When God reveals our sin, we should seek His face with tears. 3. God is a promise keeper even if we are not. And 4. Prayerlessness is sin. What will we do about it?

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023

Evidence that demands a verdict

Joshua 23-24 We have been walking with Joshua since Exodus when he and the company of thousands left Egypt. He and Caleb have been faithful in every circumstance and are our heroes. As they are nearing the end of their conquest of the Promised land, Joshua challenges the tribes to choose whom they will serve: the gods of the Amorites or the God of Israel. They say they will be faithful, and Joshua bluntly tells them they cannot, for God is a holy God and will not allow sin in the land. Then, they offer words as their witness, and to their credit, they were faithful all the days of Joshua and the elders who were alive. Their words were their witness. Joshua erected a stone on which he plastered the Ten Commandments as the second witness. The third witness was the altar that the eastern tribes erected as a memorial to remember.

Someone asked once: Would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian? What witness would you offer in your defense? Would you have your words of yes and amen? Would your life be a witness of what you believe? Do you keep a journal of your thoughts as evidence to offer?

What is your evidence today?

March 28, 2023March 28, 2023

Humility receives its reward.

Joshua 19-21 Joshua mentored, led, guided, and persuaded the tribes to the Promised Land after being anointed by Moses. He finally steps up just as a parent to ask: why haven’t you taken control of the land that is left? And with that, the remaining tribes set off to survey the land. When all was said and done, the tribes settled in the land. Only one person, not a tribe, has not gotten their inheritance, and it is Joshua. He chose a city, and it was there that he “planted his feet,” and there he lived until he died. What a tribute to an honorable leader. He didn’t want his legacy to be land but a city. The name of the city speaks much about his character: Timnath Serah means the portion of the sun or abundant portion. As he shone in life, he shone in his choice and in his death.

We can learn much from Joshua, but his humility stands out above all character qualities. What about you; what would you want as your legacy?

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023

Promises

Joshua 16-18 A Promise made is a Promise Kept
Gentle reminders! Have you made a promise, and it is forgotten in the midst of busyness? So, God gives us this story to remind us that a promise made is a promise to be kept.

Zelophehad had no sons but only daughters and not just one but five! Earlier, these savvy sisters went to Moses to claim the inheritance of their father, but amid busyness, the leaders needed a gentle reminder of this promise. So, they go to Joshua to claim their promise, and Joshua doesn’t blink an eye. They were bold amid the leaders and the men. Here’s what it says: They came near before Eleazar, the priest, and before Joshua, the son of Nun, and before the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.” [Joshua 17:3-6]

There are lessons here: If you make a promise, keep it. Secondly, Sisters, stay strong and claim your inheritance. This is ours today that we can claim: God is a promise keeper! 1Jo 2:25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.

March 26, 2023March 26, 2023

You can be a hero for God!

Joshua 15 The Faithful Caleb
Today we have Hollywood, which tries to show us brave men and women in movies like Braveheart, but nothing compares to the “movie” God reveals to us in the book of Joshua with the hero Caleb. He and Joshua alone had believed God and was promised that he would see the Promised Land. Caleb is a real hero; faithful, confident, unafraid, and amazed at what he sees before his eyes. God has blessed him with physical and spiritual strength that has not diminished as he waited patiently and served God.

Caleb saw Hebron and said to Joshua; give me that mountain and he took it. He promised the man who helped conquer it would be given his daughter’s hand in marriage. In this, we also see him as a faithful father blessing Achsah with land and springs of water.

Caleb is a hero, showing us how to wait for our dream to be fulfilled. Yet, God’s timing is perfect and grander than we could ever imagine. Will you trust God as Caleb did?

March 25, 2023March 25, 2023

Stay Alert!

Joshua 9-11 When Jesus was in the Garden on the night of his betrayal, he cautioned the disciples to “stay alert lest you fall into temptation.” [Mk 14:34] To stay alert means: Vigilantly attentive; watchful. Unfortunately, when we have just faced an enemy, as Joshua had, and are successful beyond our wildest imaginations, we are ripe for the true enemy of our souls, Satan, to take advantage. Enter the “cunning” Gibeonites. Cunning means “skilled in ingenuity or deceit; selfishly clever or crafty.” Satan is the master deceiver, and as he roams about seeking whom he can kill and destroy, he uses not outward weapons but people as his pawns. Enter the unsuspecting Gibeonites and the unperceptive Israelites. Neither Joshua nor his army leaders consulted the Lord. BIG MISTAKE!

Satan sees his opportunities, and he uses others as his pawns. That is why we must be alert. Paul speaks of the warfare we will encounter and the weapons we need to be on guard. [Eph 6:10-18] We often overlook the Gibeonites in our lives, those who come with cunning motives and seek to gain entrance into our hearts and lives. Sometimes they are also unaware they are the pawn, and more often, we are the victims.

Stay alert – be on guard – our enemy is all around us.

Consult God always before entering into any relationship

March 24, 2023March 24, 2023

The Consequences of Sin

Joshua 5-8 How often are we caught with our hand in the cooky jar and plead for forgiveness? Achan saw, and coveted things from Jericho yet had been told that whatever was found was not to be taken. It was not just a thought, of oh, by the way, leave things there, but a command of God. Achan chose to ignore that command. And just like that, he saw, and he took. It is the Garden of Eden sin repeated again. And like Eve, he thought, God is a forgiving God, and He will forgive, and we can return to our life. But this was far more serious, and God would not overlook it. When you know to do right and you willingly choose not to do it is sin. [James 4:17]

Eve and Achan’s sins are similar. They knew the right thing to do but chose to disobey, and what they did not realize, and we don’t either, is that their sin affected others as well. Our sins have consequences, and often others suffer because of our choices. In Eve’s case, both she and Adam were barred from the Garden. In Achan’s case, his whole family and his possessions were burned by fire.
Numbers 32:23 says, “But if you do not do this, then look, you will have sinned against the Lord. And know that your sin will find you out.

If you have sinned, go to God and seek forgiveness lest others also face the consequences for your sin.

Photo Credit: https://buildafoundation.net/category/consequences-of-sin/

March 23, 2023March 23, 2023

Instructions

Joshua 1-4 The man Joshua was born in Egypt. He followed Moses through the desert for over 40 years faithfully. When Moses went into the tent to talk to God, he stood guard outside. When Moses was done and went to speak to the people, Joshua remained behind at the door of the tent of meeting. He saw the Red Sea open and the manna from heaven. He was one of two scouts out of the twelve that returned with a good report about the land they were to enter. Because Joshua, along with Caleb, was faithful, he would live to enter the Promised Land after a long 40 yrs of wandering. Joshua was tested and found faithful.
Now God is instructing Joshua as the new commander to lead the Israelites. As Moses closed Deuteronomy, he had one set of instructions: be strong and courageous. God would repeat those exact words over and over and over so Joshua would not hesitate to lead.

What instructions has God left you and me? It is this: follow God; be strong and courageous. The prophet Isaiah many years later, wrote these words: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.” [Is 43:2]

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023

Acknowledge God

Deut 33-34, Psalm 91 How comforting to know that God has angelic warriors around us in the past and even now when we do not understand or fear the unknown.

Moses knew this truth: his faithfulness is like a shield surrounding us when the terrors of the day or night happen. God will order His angelic warriors to come alongside, stand in the gap, and stand behind and beside us. We do not need to fear, for the guardian angelic warriors are there to protect us. His promise is the same today as yesterday: the LORD says, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” [Ps 91:14]

Do I acknowledge His name before others? Luk 12:9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. and again Mat 10:33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

Acknowledge God today and always.