Refreshing

Daily
in Gods Word
Emphasis on

Happy New Year!

January 1
Bible Reading: II Corinthians 5:12-21
Key Verse: Verse 17 - Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new.
Key Words: old things are passed away
Today we begin a new year. Last year's mistakes are
past. Last year's successes are, well, last year's. Today we
begin a new 2016. So let me encourage you to remember that
all things come into our lives pass on and new things will
come. We should learn from our failures and build on our
successes, but we should never quit.
Isn't it great to know that when we are saved, God
throws away the old and builds the new?
Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property
he was selling. The building had been empty for months and
needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the
windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed
a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that
he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to
correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this
place, Im going to build something completely different. I
dont want this building; I want the site." Compared with the
renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own
lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the
wrecking ball. When we become Gods, the old life is over (2
Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site
and permission to build.

What to do:
Let God build you.

That I Have Given You

January 2
Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-7
Key Verse: Verse 3 - Every place that the sole of your
foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I
said unto Moses.
Key Words: that I have given unto you
The book of Joshua starts with the word now. This
word links the book of Deuteronomy with the book of Joshua.
Moses is referred to as the servant of the Lord. What a
compliment! God Himself referred to Moses as a servant of
His. Now Moses is dead, but Gods Word continues to go
forward. Leaders may change but God doesnt.
Now that Moses is dead, Joshua is to take over and go
forward over the Jordan River to possess what has been
promised. Its interesting to note that the book begins with
Moses death and ends with Joshuas death. Every place
Gods people tread, God has given the land to them. This is
what God intended for His people forty years earlier. (See
Numbers 13.)
I read recently about a young man who was very
impressed by a motto on a sticker that said, LET GOD. He
cut out the six letters, pasted them on a card, and hung the
motto on his bedroom wall. Somehow the blessing he sought
did not seem to come. One day, however, he found the last
letter had dropped off his board, leaving the motto LET GO.
When we let go of all the things that hinder us: our
will, our plans, and selfish desires, then Joshua 1:3 can and
will be fulfilled: Every place that the sole of your foot shall
tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
The pastor from India said, That was no mistake. I found
the true and living God because I searched for Him with all
my heart. And so can you!
What to do:
Many blessings of God are missed because we
fail to go forward, so I challenge you to move forward.

Success
January 3
Bible Reading: Joshua 1:8-18
Key Verse: Verse 8 This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt
have good success.
Key Words: then thou shalt have good success
Joshua was governed by the book of the law. This
book was prepared for Joshua according to Exodus 17:14,
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in
a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly
put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Rabbinical scholars record that Joshua was holding
the book of Deuteronomy in his hands when he was notified
of Moses death. We do not know if that is factual, but we do
know that the law of God was important to Joshua. God
instructed him to meditate day and night upon Gods Word so
he could know and obey the Word of God. Meditation was not
optional; it was a command. As you read Joshua 1:8 you
come to the realization that meditation plus application
equals success. This is the only place in the Scripture where
the word success is used. No doubt Joshua obeyed the Word
and was prosperous.
H. P. Barker gives a graphic illustration that points up
the need for both knowing and applying the truths of
Scripture. When he looked out into his garden one day, he
noticed three things. He first saw a beautiful butterfly that
would light on a flower and then flutter to another just for a
few seconds. It touched as many flowers as it could, but
derived no benefit from the flowers. He watched a little
longer and a botanist came into the garden. He was equipped
with a notebook under his arm and a big magnifying glass that
he used to study the flowers at length and then write his
findings in his notebook. After studying the flowers for
several hours, he left. The third thing that was noticed was a

tiny bumble bee that would land on the flowers and sink deep
down into it, extracting all the nectar and pollen it could
carry. It went into the flower empty and came out full. That
is what the Lord wants to happen to us when it comes to
studying His Word. He wants us to get something from our
study of the Scriptures that will satisfy us and fill us with His
joy and power.
Thats what real success and prosperity is: its getting
inside the Word of God and coming out full. Let me
encourage you to make this a daily habit in your life.

What to do:
Get inside Gods Word, obey it, live it, love it.
Spiritual success is sure to follow.
********************

The Scarlet Thread

January 4

Bible Reading: Joshua 2

Key Verse: Verse 18 Behold, when we come into the

land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the
window which thou didst let us down by: and thou
shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy
brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto
thee.
Key Words: this line of scarlet thread
Rod Mattoon in his commentary on Joshua says:
Judgment would pass over them because of the
rope of red. What a beautiful picture of the shelter
we have from Gods judgment because of the blood
of Christ.
In Egypt, the Death Angel passed over the homes
with the blood on the door posts.

 In the sacrifice of the red heifer, the scarlet thread

was wrapped around hyssop and thrown into
flames when the heifer was burnt. The ashes were
mixed together and used in ceremonial cleansing.
The blood of Christ cleanses us of our sin (I John
1:7).
On the Day of Atonement, a scarlet thread was
attached to the gate of the Tabernacle. Jewish
historians state that it was white linen that had
been dyed red. If the sin of the people was atoned
for, the thread would turn back to white. After the
crucifixion to the destruction of the Temple, the
rope remained red because the sacrifice of Christ
had been rejected. The purpose of the thread was
identification, a mark of obedience, and separation
from wickedness. Christians are to be identified
with Christ by obedience to the Lord and
separation from the wicked lifestyle of this world.
The story is told of a man passing through a village in
Basutoland. To his surprise he noticed some chickens with
red ribbons fastened to their backs between their wings. He
asked the owner of the chickens what was the purpose of
those red ribbons. He answered and told the traveler that the
red ribbons protected his chickens from hawks that would
normally attack them. During his fifteen years in the village,
no chicken was taken by a hawk if it had that red ribbon on
his back. Yet, many chickens that did not have the ribbon
were carried off by the hawks. Blue, green, and other colors
did not work except the red. What a lesson for us. The scarlet
ribbon of Christs blood protects us from the wrath and doom
that awaits the unbelieving sinner and keeps us from the
onslaughts of Satan who desires to take us captive at his will.
Thank God for the blood of Christ!

What to do:
Thank God today and everyday for the precious
blood of Jesus Christ.

Direction & Preparation

January 5
Bible Reading: Joshua 3:1-13
Key Verse: Verse 2 And it came to pass after three
days, that the officers went through the host;
Key Words: after three days
The trip from Shittim to Jordan was about ten miles.
Israel had set up camp for three days preparing themselves to
cross over the Jordan River.
A key lesson here is that Gods people need to realize
the importance of preparing themselves to obey Gods leading
and to wait on Gods direction and timing. Direction and
preparation comes from a clear conscience, confession of
wrong, prayer and study of Gods Word. When you do these
things your days will be free from inner turmoil and conflict,
and Gods will can be done with a right and Godly attitude.
In 18th century Wales, a young man named William
Williams graduated from the university to become a physician
of the soul. He became a pastor. William was warned about
fanatics such as Wesley and Whitfield and decided to be a
fanatic for the Lord too. In 43 years of preaching, he traveled
95,000 miles and preached regularly to crowds as high as
10,000 people or more. Once he had the opportunity to
preach to an estimated crowd of 80,000 people. That day he
wrote in his journal, God strengthened me to speak so loud
that most could hear. Pastor Williams is best remembered,
however, for the hymns he wrote which ended up being about
800 songs. This man followed Gods guidance through the
snows of winter, the rains of spring, and the heat of the
summer. He was beaten by mobs (once within an inch of his
life) and also cheered by crowds. In all his adventures and
travels, his compelling desire was to do the will of the Lord in
his life. He penned that attitude in the song he had written,
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.
Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.

What to do:
Remember, attitude has a lot to do with outcome.
********************

The Stones of Remembrance

January 6

Bible Reading: Joshua 4:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 5 And Joshua said unto them,
Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into
the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you
a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number
of the tribes of the children of Israel:
Key Words: and take ye up every man of you a

stone
The Lord had a reason for the removal of the stones.
When future generations would ask the meaning of the
stones, their parents would be able to explain to their children
how the waters were miraculously cut off before the Ark of the
Covenant. The stones were a memorial to both the power and
work of God. We all need a memorial of Gods blessings and
working in our lives because we do have a tendency to forget.
The memorial stones would also be a reminder to
those who wanted to cross back into Egypt. We, as believers,
never need to go back into our Egypt of carnality and the
world.
Unfortunately, many believers get away from God and
return to their old sinful lifestyle.
Robert Robinson wrote the wonderful hymn, Come,
Thou Fount, when he was 23 years old. The third stanza of
the hymn says, Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave
the God I love. Robert was expressing a battle already taking
place in his life, for later in his life Robert backslid and got far
away from the Lord. While riding a stagecoach one day, a
worldly Robinson heard a woman humming his hymn. She
later engaged him in conversation and asked what he thought
of the song. Robinson was broken and overcome with

emotion and said to this lady, Madam, I am the poor

unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago and I
would give a thousand worlds if I had them, to enjoy the
feelings I had back then. Sin doesnt give, it takes.

What to do:
Go back and re-visit the blessings of God in your life.
********************

Learning From Their Mistakes

January 7
Bible Reading: Joshua 4:14-24
Key Verse: Verse 24 That all the people of the earth
might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty:
that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
Key Words: the hand of the LORD, that it is

mighty

The twelve stones were to demonstrate the mighty

hand of God to the nation of Israel. We as believers know the
mighty hand of God through His:
Resurrection victory over death,
Reconciliation forgiveness of sin, and
Revelation the Word of God.
A university professor noticed a student was about to
fall asleep in class. So the teacher asked the student, What is
the greatest problem in our society...ignorance or apathy?
The student replied, I dont know and I dont care. Such was
the case with the people of Israel. The result of these
memorial stones was eventually failure (Judges 2:8-12). They
suffered from apathy and the Second Generation Syndrome.
The land was partially conquered and the people became
content with a partial victory. We got some land now! was

their attitude. Why should we bother to get anymore and

risk death? They became satisfied with second best. They
failed because they neglected to fully obey the Word of God.
In Joshua, obedience to Gods Word played a big role, but in
Judges it was hardly mentioned. May we learn from their
mistakes.
What to do:
Remember when we fail to learn from the mistakes
of others, we are bound to make the same mistakes
ourselves.
********************

Gilgal

January 8

Bible Reading: Joshua 5

Key Verse: Verse 10 And the children of Israel

encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the
fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of
Jericho.
Key Words: And the children of Israel encamped

in Gilgal
The name Gilgal means roll. In verse 9 we see that
Gilgal is where God rolled away the reproach of Egypt which
was on Israel. Now in verse 10 Gilgal becomes a place of
refreshment and restoration. Israels obedience had brought
about fellowship and feasting by means of the Passover (verse
9) and a delicious meal (verse 10).
This would have been only the third time Israel would
have observed the Passover. The first time was in Egypt when
the death angel visited the land; and the second time was at
Mt. Sinai (Numbers 9:5). During the wilderness wanderings
the Passover was not observed because no uncircumcised
person could partake in the feast (Exodus 12:48).

The nation of Israel had forfeited their right to the

Passover by their disobedience and sin. God will not give the
enjoyment of His fellowship and blessings to a people who are
content to live in disobedience.
Just as Israel had forfeited the right of Gods blessing
and fellowship, today many believers as well are giving up the
blessings of God for a life of carnality and sin. If these
believers living in sin do read their Bibles, they get nothing
from it. When they do go to church, they do not enjoy it. If
they fellowship with other believers, they find little in
common because they are following the beat of a different
drummer...a carnal one. Sin and disobedience are robbing
them of a great blessing. What a shame!

What to do:
Dont let sin rob you of Gods blessings.
********************

Jerichos Of Our Life

January 9

Bible Reading: Joshua 6:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 2 And the LORD said unto

Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and
the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
Key Words: And the LORD said

Jericho was locked up tight as a drum. It was

straightly shut up. In the Hebrew this reads was closed and
closed. It was closed with iron gates reinforced with copper
bolts. Jericho thought it was secure, only to find out later that
it was insecure. Their fortress would soon become a flaming
crematory and they would be the fuel for the fire. They
thought Israel would come through the gates, but God had
different plans. What was Jericho like? Why are they
attacking here? Jericho was the fortress guarding the eastern
entrance into Canaan land. It was located seventeen miles

northeast of Jerusalem. It could be cold and wintry in the

hills of Jerusalem, but a six-hour hike dropping 3000 feet
through desert and rocky land would bring you to the warm
and pleasant climate of Jericho which was 800 feet below sea
level. In the summer it was extremely hot in Jericho. It was
called the city of palm trees which were abundant in the city.
It was a beautiful place. The area of the city was eight to nine
acres. It was surrounded by double walls 25 to 30 feet high
with an outer wall six feet thick. The inner wall was twelve
feet thick with fifteen feet between each wall. Jericho was a
big obstacle for Israel. Their faith was being put to the test.
Let me assure you that if you dedicate yourself to be
what God wants you to be and to go where God wants you to
go, youll face some Jerichos in your life as well. You will
face...

The Jericho of materialism,

The Jericho of popularity,
The Jericho of persecution,
The Jericho of rejection,
The Jericho of discouragement.

But keep on marching and obeying God victory will

come. Hold on, my child, joy comes in the morning.

What to do:
Look beyond your obstacles and see the possibilities
if you keep on going.

Rahab
January 10

Bible Reading: Joshua 6:12-25

Key Verse: Verse 17 And the city shall be accursed,

even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only
Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with
her in the house, because she hid the messengers that
we sent.
Key Words: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she

and all that are with her in the house

Rahab and her household were to be spared. For six

days Rahab watched the army walking around the city in
silence. Do you think it was tense in her home? You better
believe it was! What would you be thinking?
When will they attack?
Will we get caught?
Will the soldiers keep their word and spare us?
What would you be checking or examining? I imagine
Rahab was checking that scarlet thread to make sure it was in
the window. Paul tells us, Examine yourselves, whether ye
be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own
selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be
reprobates? (II Corinthians 13:5).
Rahab is a picture of a believer prepared for the return
of the Lord and the judgment to come. Rahab was removed
from the calamity and judgment after the shout. She was one
on high looking down on the peril below. She did not know
when the judgment would begin, but she was ready and
prepared. Are you? John Wesley was asked by a friend, If
you were to die at midnight tomorrow, how would you spend
the rest of your life until then? Wesley replied, I would
spend my time exactly as I plan to spend it now. I would
preach tonight and travel to another town tomorrow to preach
in the afternoon. Then I would go to the Martins home in the
evening where they are expecting me. We would spend time
fellowshipping together and praying. I would go to bed, put
myself in my Fathers care, go to sleep, and wake up in
Heaven. Wesley was a man ready for Glory!!

The question is, are you?

What to do:
Live everyday as if it was your last on earth, and one
day it will be.
********************

Defeat

January 11

Bible Reading: Joshua 7:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 1 - But the children of Israel

committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for
Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed
thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled
against the children of Israel.
Key Words: But the children of Israel committed a

trespass
Joshua is still filled with joy over the victory of
Jericho, but he is about to learn that yesterdays victories do
not immune us from tomorrows defeats.
The spies return from spying out Ai and basically say
we can make quick work of this. Gods people had become
overconfident. They had forgotten that it was God who
brought victory, not Israel. The spies in their overconfidence
underestimate the strength of the enemy and overestimate
their own ability. Overconfidence not only can lead to
struggle and defeat, it will lead us into the valley of despair.
Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about
overconfidence:
It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament,
and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying
shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my
ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He

motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said,

Congratulations. I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as
I did, I knew I had lost my focus.
On my next two shots, I hit the ball into the sand trap,
then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost
the Masters. You dont forget a mistake like that; you just
learn from it and become determined that you will never do
that again. I havent in the thirty years since.
We would do well to learn from others the defeat of
overconfidence.

What to do:
Remember, he who fails to learn from his failures is
bound to repeat them.
********************

Attraction to Sin
January 12

Bible Reading: Joshua 7:10-26

Key Verse: Verse 21 When I saw among the spoils a

goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred
shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels
weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and,
behold, they
are hid in the earth in the midst of my
tent, and the silver under it.
Key Words: When I saw

The path of sin never changes. Achan said, I saw, I

coveted, I took, I fell.
Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It
was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed
the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that
there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls
by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As
they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out,
and they would escape from the falls.

I watched one gull which seemed to delay and

wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the
carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the
falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and
flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought
it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws
had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great,
and the gull plunged into the abyss.
The material possessions of this world can entrap us if
we become attached to them. Like Achan we will fall and our
fall not only affects us, but those around us as well.

What to do:
Remember, the first duty of every soul is not
freedom, but to find its master. If Jesus is your
Master, He alone will attract you.
********************

Fear Not
January 13

Bible Reading: Joshua 8:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 1 And the LORD said unto
Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all
the
people of war with thee, and arise, go up to
Ai: see, I
have given into thy hand the king of
Ai, and his
people, and his city, and his land:
Key Words: Fear not
Israels failure at Ai had shaken them, so God gave His
reassurance that He was still with them. God knew that fear
of the future and discouragement always accompanied failure.
Failure brings with it an I cant attitude. But in reality
failure is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes which
allows us to do a better job the next time.

Henry Ford defined failure as an opportunity to begin

again more intelligently, and organize a victory out of failure.
Alexander Whyte said, No matter what mistake we make, the
worst mistake of all is to not try again.
Thomas Edison failed many times and yet made over
1,100 inventions. When he worked on the idea of making
artificial light, he couldnt find a filament that would give good
light when electricity flowed through it. He spent two years
experimenting with thousands of materials, including
everything from blades of grass to wire made from platinum.
Finally he used carbonized thread, which is cotton sewing
thread burned to ash. On October 21, 1879, he succeeded.
Remember, it is not failing that is the problem; it is
what one does after he fails.

What to do:
Remember, a winner never quits and a quitter never
wins.
********************

Cockiness

January 14

Bible Reading: Joshua 8:10-29

Key Verse: Verse 14 - And it came to pass, when the

king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early,
and the men of the city went out against Israel to
battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed,
before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers
n ambush against him behind the city.
Key Words: the king of Ai...hasted and rose up

early
It was pride and over-cockiness of Israel that led to
their defeat against Ai. Now the pride and arrogance of Ai will

lead to their demise. Remember, Pride goeth before the fall.

Past victories are no guarantee of future victories.
An overconfident girl may think she can handle the
petting only to find out later the power of worldly lust. An
overconfident pastor may feel as though he can handle his
desires and passions as well, only to find himself a shame to
the cause of Christ, his family and himself.
The overconfidence of many teens and adults has
destroyed them when they thought they could handle the
drugs, sex, or liquor. Watch out for cockiness and pride.
A man who had a high opinion of himself, stepped on a
coin-operated scale that dispensed a card giving his weight
and comments about his personality. After reading the card,
he handed it to his wife and said, Here, look at this! She
took it and read aloud, You are dynamic, a born leader,
handsome, and much admired by women for your
personality. Giving a second look, she added, Hmmm...I see
it got your weight wrong, too.
Beware of cockiness!

What to do:
Remember: Philippinas1:21: For me to live is
Christ not for me to live is me.
********************

They Failed to Pray

January 15

Bible Reading: Joshua 9:1-15

Key Verse: Verse 14 - And the men took of their
victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the
LORD.
Key Words: and asked not the counsel at the mouth of
the LORD
He who does not learn from his past is bound to repeat
it. Israel failed to seek God when they attacked Ai. Now here

in chapter 9, they again fail to seek God when they make

peace and a league with the Gibeonites.
Because they did not pray and seek God, they lacked
discernment and were easily misled (verses 12 15).
We would all do well to heed the prayer checklist of
missionary, Ruth Paxton.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Has my prayer life been powerless because of

besetting sin? _____
Has it been hindered by irregularity? _____
Have I had such power with God that I have real
power with people? _____
Have I prayed only for self and my needs? _____
Has my prayer life been hindered because of a lack
of hearing Gods Word? _____
Has my prayer life been joyless, more of a duty
than a privilege? _____
Has my prayer life been sacrificial? Has it cost me
nothing in time and energy? _____

We will always fail unless we learn that we should:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.

What to do:
Always remember, a lot of kneeling keeps you in
good standing.

Sun Stood Still

January 16

Bible Reading: Joshua 10:1-14

Key Verse: Verse 13 - And the sun stood still, and the
moon stayed, until the people had avenged
themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in
the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst
of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole
day.
Key Words: And the sun stood still

This passage of Scripture is one of the most

controversial passages in all of Gods Word. It is one that
scoffers and critics use to say the Bible is a hoax. But need I
remind you that God is no hoax? If God can speak the world
into existence, if God can create life, if God can save our souls,
then certainly God can cause the sun to stand still.
Joshua did not know the earth is 8,000 miles in
diameter, 200 million square miles of surface, and 71% of that
is water, that the earth travels 18 miles per second, that the
sun is 93 million miles away from the earth, and at the core of
the sun, it is 30 million degrees Fahrenheit. Joshua did not
know that the earth weighs 6.6 sextillion tons. Joshua knew
none of this. All Joshua knew was that with God, nothing is
impossible.
Harry Rimmer in his book Harmony of Science and
Scripture records the story of a professor of astronomy at Yale
University who found the earth was 24 hours out of schedule.
Dr. Trotter, another professor at Yale, challenged him to read
the Bible to find the answer. This professor said 23 hours and
20 minutes was lost at this event in Joshua. The professor
decided the Bible was not true because there was a 40-minute
mistake.
But we read in Isaiah 38:8 that God would turn the
sun back 10 degrees to affirm to Hezekiah that He would give
him 15 years of additional life. Ten degrees is 40 minutes on
the sun dial. To God be the glory!!
What to do:
If God can stop time, He can stop the problems you

face as well.
********************

The Victory

January 17

Bible Reading: Joshua 11:1-20

Key Verse: Verse 18 - Joshua made war a long time

with all those kings.
Key Words: made war a long time

The victory over the enemies of Israel did not come

quickly or easily. These foes were formidable opponents, but
by Gods grace and perseverance, victory did come.
Now there is a lesson in this for us as well. Not all
victories in our lives will come easily, but by Gods grace and
perseverance on your part, victory will come.
A lad saw a want ad in a small Massachusetts paper
asking for a young man to assist the office manager of a
brokerage house in Boston. Applications were to be mailed to
Box 1720 in Boston. The young man wrote the best letter of
application he knew how. When no reply came, he wrote a
second letter. Still no reply. Though discouraged, he did not
quit. He rewrote his letter, changing the wording, improving
the construction. Still he received no reply from his third
letter.
The lad knew that success required persistence. So he
took a train to Boston, went directly to the post office and
asked, Who rents Box 1720? The clerk replied that to give
out such information was against the law.
The boy hunted for Box 1720, then waited hours until
someone came. He followed the person to one of Bostons
largest brokerage houses. When the manager heard his story,
he said, My young friend, you are just the type we are looking
for. The job is yours. Thus began the career of Roger
Babson, one of Americas illustrious statisticians.
What to do:

 Remember, if Columbus would have turned back, no

one would have blamed him. No one would have
remembered him either!! Keep going, victory will
come.
********************

The Defeated

January 18

Bible Reading Joshua 12

Key Verse: Verse 1 - Now these are the kings of the

land, which the children of Israel smote, and
possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward
the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto
mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:
Key Words Now these are the kings of the land,

which the children of Israel smote

Chapter 12 is a roll sheet of the defeated kings of
Canaan. They remind us that the enemies of God are
numerous; that the faces of evil are many; that the enemies of
God are united, desperate, but by the power of God, they are
defeated. In verse 9 16, sixteen kings of the South are
defeated by Joshua. In verse 17 24, there are fifteen kings of
the North that are defeated. Thirty-one kings in all remind us
of two key things. First, these thirty-one kings remind us that
Gods people have obstacles to overcome everyday of the
month. Secondly, the thirty-one kings were defeated by God.
Daily victory comes from God. The number thirty-one in the
Bible is the numerical value term. The number thirty-one
reads in the Hebrew EL, the name of God. Victory comes
daily from a daily walk with God. What a great lesson for each
of us!
When Felix of Nola was hotly pursued by murderers,
he took refuge in a cave, and instantly over the opening of the
cave a spider came and wove his web. Seeing the web over the
caves entrance, the murderers concluded Felix could not have
entered the cave, so they passed him by. The point is Where

God is not, a wall is but a spider web; but where God is, a
spiders web is as a wall. Thank God for his marvelous ways
which benefit us daily.

What to do:
Commit each day to God and He will carry you
through.
********************

Unfinished Business
January 19

Bible Reading Joshua 13

Key Verse: Verse 1 - Now Joshua was old and
stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou
art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet
very much land to be possessed.
Key Words: and there remaineth yet very much

land to be possessed

Joshua had lived a full life. We know that he is over

the age of 80. The term well stricken in years means over
80. Yet God wasnt through with Joshua yet; he still had
unfinished business to take care of. Two lessons we learn
from this portion of Scripture: age is never an excuse not to
serve; and secondly, we are never to rest on our past
achievements. There will always be unfinished business of
Gods that needs to be done.
An older man began cutting trees to construct a log
house. A neighbor who knew him and his age asked, Isnt
this too large an undertaking for one person who is no longer
young?
It would be, replied the elderly man, if I looked
beyond the chopping of the trees and sawing of the logs and
picturing myself laying the foundation and erecting the walls
and putting on the roof. Carrying the load all at once would

exhaust me. But it isnt much of a job to cut down this one
tree, and thats all I have to do right now.
The moral of the story is take one thing at a time and
do it then that which is unfinished will be finished. So it is
in all of our lives, no matter what our age.

What to do:
Finish the course.
********************

Caleb
January 20

Bible Reading: Joshua 14

Key Verse: Verse 8 - Nevertheless my brethren that

went up with me made the heart of the people melt:
but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
Key Words: I wholly followed the LORD my God

Three things you see about Caleb in Joshua 14.

First of all, he was committed to doing the will of God
(verse 9).
Secondly, he was consistent (verse 10).
Thirdly, he was courageous (verse 12).
For forty-five years Caleb had been behind the scenes
as an obedient, faithful servant.
We never find him
grumbling, griping, or complaining. He was loyal and
consistent. Caleb would be a perfect example of absolute
surrender. Caleb meant business for God.
Author and business leader Fred Smith writes: One of
my treasured memories comes from a doughnut shop in
Grand Saline, Texas. There was a young farm couple sitting at
the table next to mine. He was wearing overalls and she a
gingham dress. After finishing their doughnuts, he got up to
pay the bill, and I noticed she didnt get up to follow him. But
then he came back and stood in front of her. She put her arms

around his neck, and he lifted her up, revealing that she was
wearing a full-body brace. He lifted her out of her chair and
backed out the front door to the pickup truck, with her
hanging from his neck. As he gently put her into the truck,
everyone in the shop watched. No one said anything until a
waitress remarked, almost reverently, He took his vows
seriously.
So it was with Caleb he took the business of God
seriously and so should we.

What to do:
You can join the crowd and not be serious about the
business of God...or you can join the few who take it
seriously: thats my recommendation.
********************

Boundaries

January 21

Bible Reading: Joshua 15:1-20

Key Verse: Verse 1 This then was the lot of the tribe
of the children of Judah by their families; even to the
border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was
the uttermost part of the south coast.
Key Words: even to the border

Chapter 15 describes for us the boundaries for the

Israelites. A boundary is a confinement, a limit. Boundaries
promote order and security. Without boundaries we couldnt
play ball, drive on the road, nor could we live in peace.
Without boundaries there would be chaos. We as believers
have boundaries. The Ten Commandments are boundaries.
Parents need to provide boundaries for their children.
Without them children would be wild, rebellious, and out of
control.

The poet Coleridge was visited by a man who had a

theory about raising children. He stated, I believe children
should be given a free rein to think and act and thus learn at
an early age to make their own decisions. This is the only way
they can grow into their full potential. Coleridge made no
comment but simply led the man to his garden. Come see
my flower garden, he said. The opinionated visitor took one
look at the overgrown garden and remarked, Why, thats
nothing but a yard full of weeds. The wise poet declared, It
used to be filled with roses, but this year I thought Id let the
garden grow as it willed without tending to it. This is the
result. Children, like gardens, will not automatically flourish.
They need daily attention and care.
They need boundaries. Amen and amen!!

What to do:
Boundaries given with love are not something you
are doing to your child, but for your child.
********************

Avoiding Compromise
January 22

Bible Reading: Joshua 16

Key Verse: Verse 10 - And they drave not out the

Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites
dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and
serve under tribute.
Key Words: And they drave not out the

Canaanites

Believers must realize that they cannot compromise

with evil. The tribe of Ephraim failed to understand that and
suffered greatly because of it (Judges 1).

When you compromise with evil, you weaken yourself

greatly. The Boy Scouts of America understood this truth. In
1992 the Boy Scouts were under fire in California. The
Berkeley, California, schools closed their doors to the Boy
Scouts because they refused to admit homosexuals and
atheists. A judge in Santa Ana, California, ordered Cub Scout
Pack 519 to re-admit atheist twins. The two boys were ousted
when they refused to say God during their pledge. All across
California people began to pull their financial support for the
Scouts. In San Francisco alone $849,000 was withdrawn
from support of the Scouts because of their exclusion of
homosexuals.
Blake Lewis, spokesperson for the Boy Scouts, said,
Mainstream families want moral values for their youth. He
went on to explain that there is no chance that the Boy Scouts
will change its policy no matter how much financial support
they lose. He closed by saying, Our values are not for sale.
Because they took a strong stand, people from every corner of
the United States began to send in money and, as a result of
their stand, the Boy Scouts were much better off financially in
the end because they would not compromise.
We must, as believers, come to the place where we
understand compromising doesnt pay. Stay the course, do
right. The psalmist David said, I have been young, and now
am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his
seed begging bread.

What to do:
Do right, always, every time.

Selfishness

January 23

Bible Reading: Joshua 17

me

Key Verse: Verse 14 - And the children of Joseph

spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me
but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a
great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed
hitherto?
Key Words: And the children of Joseph spake unto

Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one

lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a
great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me
hitherto?
The children of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, feel
they have been slighted of their fair share of the land
inheritance.
In verse 14 they proclaim their selfishness, arrogance
and pride by proclaiming their own greatness.
There is little in life that will make you more spiritually
miserable than a haughty attitude of selfishness. You may get
your way, but a selfish attitude will leave you empty and
unfulfilled.
An irritable old fellow boarded a train, occupied the
best seat, and then tried to reserve another seat for himself by
placing his luggage on it. Just before the crowded vehicle
started, a teenage boy came running up and jumped aboard.
This car is full, said the man irritably; that seat next to
mine is reserved for a friend of mine who has put his bag
there. The youth paid no attention but sat down saying, All
right, Ill stay here until he comes. He placed the suitcase on
his knee while the elderly man glared at him in vain. Of
course, the friend did not appear, and soon the train began
to move. As it glided past the platform, the young fellow
tossed the bag through the open window remarking,
Apparently your friend has missed the train. We mustnt let
him lose his luggage, too!

Selfishness doesnt pay, now does it? I challenge you

to be content with what God has given you. Its really the key
to a happy, fulfilled life.

What to do:
Remember, the way to have joy is: Jesus, Others,
and You.
********************

Zeal

January 24

Bible Reading: Joshua 18:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 3 - And Joshua said unto the

children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to
possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers
hath given you?
Key Words: How long are ye slack

What do you do when you get behind a slow driver?

Do you pass when its dangerous, tailgate, lay on the horn,
flash the lights, or relax and enjoy the scenery?
There were seven tribes that were driving slowly real
slow. They had not possessed their land. Joshua is honking
his horn and getting impatient with the slackness.
The seven tribes were slow to respond to the challenge.
They were weak in faith and spiritual zeal. These folks wanted
to take the easy road.
Sounds a lot like many Christians today, doesnt it? A
little girl saw a church sign in a church meeting hall and was
crying. The sign read, The zeal of the house hath consumed
me. The girl said, Im crying because of the zeal. Someone
responded, Dont cry, little girl. There is no zeal here. What
a shame!
John Milton got up at four oclock every morning to
work on Paradise Lost. William Cullen Bryant rewrote

Thanatopsis ninety-five times. Noah Webster worked thirtysix years to produce the first edition of his dictionary. Many
business executives put in ten or twelve hours a day, six or
even seven days a week not always because they have to, but
because they are enthusiastic about their work.
So we should be about our work for the Lord.

What to do:
Be zealous, not a slackard, in your work for the
Lord.
********************

Uncontrolled Anger

January 25

Bible Reading: Joshua 19:1-9 and Genesis 49:5-7

Key Verse: Genesis 49:7 - Cursed be their anger, for

it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will
divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Key Words: Cursed be their anger

Simeons inheritance was closely associated with

Judahs. Their inheritance was a fulfillment of Jacobs
prophecy found in Genesis 49:5-7. Simeon and Levi are
instruments of cruelty. Because they did not control their
anger, they now reap the fruit of their actions. They would
both be divided and scattered in Israel. Simeons inheritance
was settled within Judah. The Levites had no inheritance.
They were scattered throughout Israel in 48 priestly cities.
Simeon and Levi remind us of the consequences of
uncontrolled anger.
A fable was told by Ralph Woener about a young lion
and a mountain goat. Quite thirsty, the animals arrived at a
water hole at the same time. They immediately began to
argue about who would drink first. The disagreement became
so heated that each decided he would rather die than give up

the privilege of being first to quench his thirst. As each

stubbornly confronted the other, their anger turned to rage.
Just then something distracted them, and they both looked
up. Circling overhead was a flock of vultures waiting for the
loser to fall. That was all they needed to end their quarrel.
Your anger will not only harm others, it will also harm
you!

What to do:
Be ye angry and sin not!!
********************

Cities of Refuge

January 26

Bible Reading: Joshua 20

Key Verse: Verse 2 - Speak to the children of Israel,

saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I
spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
Key Words: cities of refuge

Below is what J. Vernon McGee says in part about the

cities of refuge.
The cities of refuge set before us a vivid scene which
has a remarkable lesson for us. God gave to the children of
Israel commandment regarding setting aside certain cities for
refuge. It is interesting that many tribes and many primitive
people have had this same thing. Evidently this is something
that was passed on to all mankind. The cities of refuge were
for the protection of one who had killed another accidentally.
In the Hawaiian Islands, on the Kona coast of the Big
Island, there is a place known as the City of Refuge. It was in
use back in the days before Christianity came to the Islands,
when the tribes were slaying each other and even offering
human sacrifices. It is there as a tourist attraction today.

Gods commandment for the establishment of cities

of refuge was first given in Exodus 21:13: And if a man lie not
in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint
thee a place whither he shall flee. Then explicit directions for
the cities of refuge are given in Numbers 35 the entire
chapter. Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge
for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any
person at unawares (Numbers 35:11).
Now that the children of Israel are in the Promised
Land and each tribe has been allotted its portion of land, the
Lord speaks to Joshua about assigning certain cities to be
cities of refuge.
There are also a number of spiritual truths about the
cities of refuge, some of which are...
The cities provided salvation and shelter for
anyone. Salvation is for anyone who believes on
Jesus Christ.
The cities were easily accessible. Salvation is easily
accessible.
The gates to the cities were always open. Salvation
is always open to all who come to Jesus.
I trust today that Jesus is your place of refuge.

What to do:
Run to Jesus, Hell never fail.
********************

The Levites and Gods Grace

January 27

Bible Reading: Joshua 21:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 3 - And the children of Israel gave

unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the
commandment of the LORD, these cities and their
suburbs.

Key Words: And the children of Israel gave unto

the Levites out of their inheritance

The tribe of Levi did not receive land allotments like
the other tribes of Israel because of Gods judgment on them
(see Genesis 49:5-7). Just the fact they were given land shows
the marvelous grace of God.
Readers Digest wrote of the late Harvey Penick: For
90-year-old golf pro Harvey Penick, success has come late.
His first golf book, Harvey Penicks Little Red Book, has sold
more than a million copies, which his publisher believes
makes it one of the biggest things in the history of sports
books. His second book, And If you Play Golf, Youre My
Friend, has already sold nearly three-quarters of a million.
But anyone who imagines that Penick wrote the books to
make money doesnt know the man. In the 1920s Penick
bought a red spiral notebook and began jotting down
observations about golf. He never showed the book to anyone
except his son until 1991, when he shared it with a local writer
and asked if he thought it was worth publishing. The man
read it and told him yes. He left word with Penicks wife the
next evening that Simon & Schuster had agreed to an advance
of $90,000. When the writer saw Penick later, the old man
seemed troubled. Finally, Penick came clean. With all his
medical bills, he said, there was no way he could advance
Simon & Schuster that much money. The writer had to
explain that Penick would be the one to receive $90,000.
People often have Penicks reaction to the fabulous grace God
has to offer. We ask, What must I do? God answers, Just
receive.

What to do:
Be thankful and gratefully receive the grace of God.

Rest
January 28

Bible Reading: Joshua 21:34-45

Key Verse: Verse 44 - And the LORD gave them rest
round about, according to all that he sware unto their
fathers: and there stood not a man of all their
enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their
enemies into their hand.
Key Words: And the LORD gave them rest
At last the children of Israel have possessed the land
and are in the land of promise. There they are at rest, free
from war and strife. Only in Christ are we at rest, free from
war and strife. Praise God for His wonderful rest!
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man
noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games
with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking
him why he wasted his time in such a frivolous activity.
Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its
string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the
critical Athenian, Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us
what the unstrung bows imply.
The man looked at it for several moments but had no
idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained,
If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if
you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.
People are also like that. Thats why we all need to
take time to rest. Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied
disciples after they had returned from a prolonged period of
ministry. And in the Old Testament, God set a pattern for us
when He rested from all His work (Genesis 2:3).
Shouldnt we take His example seriously? Start by
setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew
yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best
for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.

What to do:
Rest in the Lord. Remember the old saying, We all
need to come apart and rest or else we will just come
apart.
********************

Assuming

January 29

Bible Reading: Joshua 22:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 6 - So Joshua blessed them, and

sent them away: and they went unto their tents.

Key Words: So Joshua blessed them, and sent

them away
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of
Manasseh have received their inheritance, and it is separated
from the other nine and one-half tribes. The two and a half
tribes are so thankful for their inheritance they built an altar
and began to worship. The other tribes assumed that they
were worshipping a false god because their action was large,
and as a result of rumors, hear-say, and assumptions, the
other nine and a half tribes are preparing to go to war with the
tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
Making decisions on hear-say, rumors, and
assumptions is a dangerous thing. In the end it all worked out
but that is not always the case.
Speaking of assuming and such, I got a kick out of the
following story.
This story deals with a rather old-fashioned lady, who
was planning a couple of weeks vacation in Florida. She also
was quite delicate and elegant with her language. She wrote a
letter to a particular campground and asked for reservations.
She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped
but didnt know quite how to ask about the toilet facilities.
She just couldnt bring herself to write the word toilet in her
letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with the
old-fashioned term Bathroom Commode, but when she

wrote that down, she still thought she was being too forward.
So she started all over again; rewrote the entire letter and
referred to the Bathroom Commode simply as the B.C.
Does the campground have its own B.C.? is what she actually
wrote.
Well, the campground owner wasnt old-fashioned at
all, and when he got the letter, he couldnt figure out what the
lady was talking about. That B.C. really stumped him.
After worrying about it for several days, he showed
the letter to other campers, but they couldnt figure out what
the lady meant either. The campground owner finally came to
the conclusion that the lady was and must be asking about the
location of the Baptist Church. So he sat down and wrote the
following reply:
Dear Madam:
I regret very much the delay in answering your letter,
but I now take pleasure of informing in that the B.C. is located
nine miles north of the camp site and is capable of seating 250
people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you
are in the habit of going regularly but no doubt you will be
pleased to know that a great number of people take their
lunches along, and make a day of it... . They usually arrive
early and stay late. The last time my wife and I went was six
years ago, and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole
time we were there. It may interest you to know that right
now, there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more
seats... . They plan to hold the supper in the middle of the
B.C. so everyone can watch and talk about this great event... .
I would like to say it pains me very much not to be able to go
more regularly, but it is surely not for lack of desire on my
part... . As we grow older, it seems to be more and more of an
effort, particularly in cold weather... . If you decide to come
down to the campground, perhaps I could go with you the first
time you go, sit with you, and introduce you to the other
folks... . This is a very friendly community.
Moral: Dont assume.

What to do:
Make sure you know what you are talking about
before speaking.
********************

Joshuas Commencement
Address
January 30

Bible Reading: Joshua 23

Key Verse: Verse 3 - And ye have seen all that the
LORD your God hath done unto all these nations
because of you; for the LORD your God is he that
hath
fought for you.
Key Words: for the LORD your God
The curtain is beginning to close on Joshuas life. He
senses that death is not far away. He is old and well-stricken
in years. Before that time should come, Joshua wants to pass
the torch and share his concerns. Joshua delivers his
commencement address to the new generation of leaders.
These are men who had fought with Joshua in battles. Joshua
reminds them that the place of their faith was to be in the
Lord, and he tells them why.
Because of His power, verse 3.
Because of His provision, verse 4.
Because of His promise, verses 5 and 10.
During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding
his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been
struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking
shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole
and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet
hearing his fathers voice telling him to jump, the boy replied,
I cant see you!

The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the

burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son. But I
can see you. Jump! The boy jumped because he trusted his
father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet
death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we
are seen, not that we know all the answers, but that we are
known.
What to do:
Remember that one day you must pass the torch.
Who are you preparing to pass it to?
********************

Faithful Service

January 31

Bible Reading: Joshua 24

Key Verse: Verse 15 - And if it seem evil unto you to
serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will
serve; whether the gods which your fathers served
that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me
and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Key Words: but as for me and my house, we will

serve the LORD

Joshuas final message to the people of Israel is that
there is no room for compromise. So he offers them a
challenge to put God first. Israels response is found in verse
16, And the people answered and said, God forbid that we
should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods.
After Joshuas final plea and the pledge of the people,
Joshua died at the age of 110. The last word spoken about
Joshua speaks volumes about him. Verse 29: ...Joshua the
son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died,... .
Word Perfect is the number 1 computer word
processor with over 7 million registered users. In poll after

poll, it is the word processor of choice among computer users.

It isnt that Word Perfects product is superior to anything else
on the market. It isnt that the price is lower. Word Perfect is
number 1 because of its superior service. One-third of the
companys employees, 750 in total, are trained and equipped
to handle customer questions and problems. They deal with
more than 16,000 toll-free calls each day at a cost of half-amillion dollars in long distance charges per month. Word
Perfects operators are on call 11 hours per day and can be
reached at over 25 different 1-800 numbers. Corporate policy
is not to have any customer on hold for more than 60 seconds;
so far this year, the average wait time is about 41 seconds.
Word Perfect has discovered that service is the key to its
success.
Joshua had figured that out as well, dont you think?

What to do:
Live your life for God and you will never have to fear
what they put on your epitaph.
********************

Notes

Notes

I deeply appreciate
the help of
Mary Parsons
Glenda Myrick
And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org