WEEK 30, Day 5, Friday, 29 July 2022

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 29 July 2022:

Joshua 21 — Everyone was called upon to provide for the priests.

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

God fulfilled all of His promises after many generations. God’s plan is generational, and God intends for His people to think generationally and plan for generations. It is a very modern and destructive phenomena that so many Christian parents are shortsighted, thinking merely about getting their kids out the door (usually in separate directions) so the parents can retire and occasionally visit the grandchildren. There is great strength in family. The Bible demonstrates building families for generations, dynasties, families that stay together, support one another, raise godly children together, and glorify God together for hundreds of years. We should plan for a godly legacy. Today, this is very hard but not impossible.

Luke 5:4-7 – “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

When you are seeking to walk in obedience to God, obeying His word though it may seem to make no sense, He will reveal Himself to you by doing what you couldn’t. Putting down the nets was hard work, but God used that commitment to provide miraculous results. God honors obedience with god-sized results, but the hard work isn’t the cause of the results, God is. We show our commitment, and God shows His power. Ultimately, God is not merely trying to provide for our earthly needs, He is seeking to draw us closer to Him.

Luke 5:8 – “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’”

Experiencing the presence of God causes us to repent and to fear the LORD.

Luke 5:15 – “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.”

Jesus did not seek the crowds; they sought Him. Jesus didn’t beg for followers; He merely revealed the truth and let those who would accept the truth follow.

Luke 5:20 – “And when he saw their faith, he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’”

Jesus brings healing and forgiveness to those who pursue Him.

Luke 5:17-24 — Doubters do not seek forgiveness.

Luke 5:28 – “And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.”

Following Jesus involves surrendering all to Him.

Luke 5:33-6:9 — Religion, with its rites and rules, is easier to follow than following Jesus.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 29 July 21: Today, have a plan and work hard for God’s glory. Don’t let anything distract you from your God-centered plan. Do the very best you can and watch God reveal Himself to you and to others by doing what you can’t. (See today’s readings)