DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for this new day. I praise and worship you. Thank you for all the blessings that you have given me and thank you for your amazing love and helping me to live for Jesus, my saviour. Please speak to me today, and help me to give you the worship you are worthy off.  And as I come before your throne of grace and mercy. I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, I ask you to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that in everything I do I may bring glory to you, the one triune God. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy and as I serve you may your name be praised. Lord in your mercy hear my prayer.

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 63:3-4 "3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands.” 

Worship Song Sung or Said: How Deep The Father’s Love For Us. (Stuart Townend)

https://youtu.be/SKDujmtyAVk

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure!
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss!
The Father turns His face away;
As wounds which marred the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure!
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss!
The Father turns His face away;
As wounds which marred the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross:
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life:
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Gods Word for Today: Joshua 2:1 

"1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim.” Go, look over the land, he said, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.”

Devotion/Study: (Part 1)

Brothers and sisters, I wonder what story touches your heart, for me, I have been really moved by someone whose life was transformed, her name is Rahab, she is described in the Bible as a prostitute and who many would see her, as someone defiled, unclean, and ungodly. The first time you meet her is in Joshua 2.  

Before we look at her story, we need to briefly look at the background of how God used her to help God’s people enter the Promised Land that God had promised Abraham.  We read in Genesis 12:7 "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land.” So, he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” 

Many years later when it was time for Gods people, the Israelites to inherit the promised land, God raised Moses to lead the people, but because he sinned against God, he was not permitted to enter. (Numbers 20:10-11) After the death of Moses, God called his assistant Joshua to lead the people into the Promise Land. We read in Joshua 1:2 "2 Moses my servant is dead.” Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.” 

It must have been very difficult for Joshua to lose his leader and mentor. Those of us who have lost loved ones know the pain of losing someone, it can be unbearable and it can be difficult to adjust to a life without that person. In recent times I have taken a number of funerals and spent time with those who have lost their loved ones. 

Having lost my own mum, I know the pain can be unbearable, especially if they are not a Christian, however we can take heart because if they are a Christian, we know they have gone to the best place, into the presence of God.  Although it’s extremely difficult and painful, we can experience Gods comfort and help from His people.               

Pause for Prayer: Let’s take some time to pray for those who we know that have lost their loved ones, asking God to comfort them. If you have lost someone recently pray for Gods peace in your life. 

Having to cope with the death of Moses. Joshua now has to fulfil the task God had giving him to lead the people into the promise land, where he would experience many troubles. 

I don’t know how Joshua was feeling with the task he was given. He may have been afraid or even fearful. I wonder what he was feeling. Would the people listen to him? What if he messed up? And wasn’t strong enough or good enough? Many of us can feel like this. Some of us know what it feels like to be overwhelmed by the pressure of responsibility. We feel weak and worry and wonder if we can do whatever God is calling us to.

At this point Joshua needed encouragement, So, God says to Him in Joshua 1:5 "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.” As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” These words of hope to Joshua were both reassuring, encouraging and motivating. From this we see three promises that the LORD makes to those who trust in Him.

1. I will be with you
2. I will never leave you
3. Nor forsake you 

These words of hope to Joshua were encouraging. Can we as believers in Christ today have this same confidence that God is with us. Absolutely. Although our situations differ from Joshua’s, the principles and promises in this passage are true for us. There will be challenging times ahead of us, as individuals and as a church. However, we are not alone, we have this same assurance that God gave to Joshua. 

As followers of Christ, we don’t know what storms we will experience. They may be rough, and rocky, these storms may be persecution, illness, financial difficulties, whatever they maybe, we have that assurance that in the storm, in the deepest waters, Jesus will always be with us.

Joshua needed some more assurance in how to live in close fellowship with God like Moses did. God knew this, so, he says to him in Joshua 1:7 "Be strong and very courageous and obey Gods word and meditate on it day and night and the promise was if he did this, he would ‘be prosperous and successful.” Although these promise in this passage was to encourage Joshua’s role as a leader of the Israelites. They are also for us, to be bold and courageous in a society that has become more hostile to those who follow Jesus. 

For Joshua, a new chapter was about to unfold in his life and for Gods people. I do believe there is new chapter that is about to unfold in the life of the church. This chapter is going to be a time of growing hostility towards Christians who seek to live for Jesus and will not conform to the pattern, the values of the culture they live in. 

Brother Munir, a friend of mine told me he was very concerned by the behaviour of some Christians. He said that in Pakistan, many professing Christians are conforming to the attitudes of Islam. Once when he was preaching in his church, he said we are Christians but the way we are living is Islamic.

The new chapter for Joshua and for Gods people was going to be very challenging, physically and spiritually. As they prepared to walk where they had never walked before, into a land unknown to them. For Joshua and the people this journey was going to be tough and a test of their faith and love for God in a land where people worshipped other gods and had different morals and values and principles to them. 

But before they could enter Canaan with Gods people, they faced with a great obstacle, the city of Jericho. The Israelites are camped on the east side of the Jordan River around 15 miles away from Jericho and ready to conquer this new land that God had promised them.

See picture below

At this time, the people in Jericho had heard about the Israelites and their God. Joshua needs to know more information about the city before they attack. So, he sends spies into the Jericho for more information. The two spies enter the city and find a place to lodge. This house is no ordinary home; it is the home of Rahab. In our next devotion we will meet Rahab.

Personal Prayers: