Corona Devo 253

Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. ~John 17:17

God is calling us to march many avenues in His name today, but our first steps are critical and will be outcome-deciding, and they must be steps into God's words of truth.  Only by seeking God's direction, can we proceed and know that we are seeking His will, and not our own.  Lord, we humble ourselves and our motives before You, and we boldly declare our whole-hearted desire to serve and glorify you with our efforts today.  

God and His Word have to go first.  Then we follow.

Did you know that God parted more than one body of water?  It wasn't just the Red Sea with Moses, He also made the waters of the Jordan River be cut off and stand up in a heap (Joshua 3:13) when Joshua led the Israelites, who were still on their way to the Promised Land (but getting closer!).

We too are (still) on our own life's journey to God's Promised Land (in Heaven), and each day we get closer.

As the Israelites came to a standstill at the Jordan River, it looked like a dead end.  

Feeling that way today?  So many disappointments and restrictions on "normal life" that it feels as if we are at a standstill, without an option of moving forward.

Pull out your weapon of hope and truth: Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. ~John 17:17

God's word leads us, and opens our minds to God's perspective and options that we cannot see on our own.  We need Him and His Word to lead us.

If you need an image of this, Joshua plays it out.  The "ark of the covenant" was an ornate, gold-overlayed, hand-crafted box that held the 10 Commandments and a few other sacred objects, as ordained by God.  In the time of Joshua, it signified the Word (and power) of God to the Israelites, and God used it to lead the Israelites through the obstacle of the Jordan River.  God still uses His Word to lead His people through their obstacles.

6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them... 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”  ~Joshua 3:6, 8

There is alot happening here, which correlates directly into how we march into our battles today.  The Lord gives direction to Joshua, who then shares it with the priests, and they do it.  The priests trust Joshua and God at His word.  We must also.  

To get God's direction, we have to talk to Him, read the Bible, and listen for His direction.  When He gives it--share it with others and obey it!    Joshua just passed on what God said.  God wants to use us the same way: to spread His Word, His hope, and His love to others.  We get filled with those things by reading His Word.   Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. ~John 17:17

9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

God directed for His Word and those holding up His Word to go first into the River.  This is also our assignment for today.  Get in to the Bible.  Gain God's wisdom, truth and direction, and then teach it to others!  We are God's priests and there is power (God's!) in sharing His teachings.  

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away...while the water flowing down to the Dead Sea was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.  ~Joshua 3:1-17

If we allow God's Word to be the "first steps" that we take, then our journey is directed by God.  And the Lord knows the condition of our minds, our culture, and our Nation: like the Jordan River, all of it is at flood stage.  Swollen, powerfully dangerous, and tumultuous.

Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.  ~Joshua 3:15-16

Heavenly Father, we pray for the water from upstream to stop flowing.  We pray for your authority and clarity and justice to be swift and obvious for all to see.  We are committed to Your Word and we step out into the river in obedience to You.

When possible, allow us the privilege of sharing Your Word and Hope with others, so they might not get carried off in the undertow.  Lord, we cry out to You: as we open up your Word, please open up dry land for us to traverse--right through the rushing waters of this world.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com