Joshua 6:1-7

Joshua 6:1-7 

English Standard Version 

  Do you remember those old commercials that talked about image being everything?  They're dated, but more accurate than ever -- people have adjusted to be as concerned about their social media images, but everyone remains concerned about image.  We want to look like we're keeping up with everything and everyone.

  What a surprise it must've been to Joshua to be instructed to wage war on Jericho by walking around the city.  Rams' horns were to be their weapons, and the Lord would see to the victory.  This isn't how conventional armies wage war.  What would the others think?  Would word get out that Israel can't win a battle conventionally?

  Joshua was so focused on being obedient to the Lord that he wasn't concerned about what this might look like to the outside world.  The Lord called and directed, so he followed.  

  If we truly believe that God created the universe and calls us into lives of discipleship, then what do the opinions of others matter?  Only one opinion truly matters in the end, so let us listen to that voice, and that voice alone, and may the others fade into the background.

Psalm 9:1-2

Psalm 9:1-2 

English Standard Version 

  Ever find yourself reliving the past?  Our phones capture so many great memories -- it's easy to flip through them and re-live favorite times.  Not too long ago, I spent some time scrolling through all the pictures of the kids on my phone, starting with their baby pictures and moving to present day.  It was a lot of fun.

  Here, the Psalmist is reminding himself to do the same thing with God.  He actively spends time remembering all of God's wonderful deeds.  Remembering this leads him to be glad and exult in God, and then he praises God.  It's a cycle -- when we spend time in Scripture, we're reminded of God's love, and this leads us to praise God, which lifts up our whole soul in gratitude.  

  So be intentional about reading Scripture, because it starts a virtuous cycle where we praise God and end up glad for all that God has done for us.

Joshua 5:13-15

Joshua 5:13-15

English Standard Version 

  Whenever we think of angels, we often think of soft and cuddly cherubs that flit around from cloud to cloud.

  However, in the Bible, whenever an angel appears, their first words are often to tell people not to be afraid, for they are raw power and intimidation.  Here, Joshua meets the commander of the army of the Lord, and he falls down and worships him.  He also makes the mistake of assuming that such a figure would pick a side in a battle, but Joshua is thinking too small.  Joshua, like me, cannot wrap my head around such a figure -- for he enters in from outside of our time and space.  He is other.

  Thanks be to God that God chooses to use such power for our favor.  We who are disobedient could be cut down by such figures.  Think about it -- if this is a commander in the army, how much power does Jesus have?  How intimidating is that?  But Jesus lays down such power.  Jesus chooses to stay on the cross, despite the temptation and ability to descend from the cross and strike down those who believed they had power over God.  

  Jesus opts to use power to liberate and deliver.  What a gift!  May we rightly worship the God who chooses to love us so.

  

Joshua 4:1-7

Joshua 4:1-7 

English Standard Version 

  What are the stones in your life?  What do you have to mark your journeys, to tell the stories of what God has done, to share it with others in your community?  Our stories are vital, and they are good news -- they are worth preserving.  We all take a different approach to how we share and tell our stories, but it is vital that we do so -- because in each and every one of us, God has been at work building something amazing, a palace where God wants to dwell.  May we treasure that and take seriously the charge to tell our story to the world, that all may come to worship God and be in awe of how God is at work.

Joshua 3:14-17

Joshua 3:14-17 

English Standard Version 

  We don't pay much attention to the second miraculous crossing, but the people started their journey with a miraculous escape through the sea in their flight from the Egyptians, and they cross into the Promised Land with yet another miraculous crossing.  The Lord halts the flow of the river Jordan so that the people can cross over.  

  This is the same river where Jesus will be baptized many years from now.  The people are crossing the river, and that river will continue to define the community.  

  A lot happened to the people in the 40 years between miraculous crossings, and much more will happen in the years between this crossing and Jesus' baptism. 

  All of us are in different stages of our journeys.  Some of us are wandering in the wilderness, some are knee-deep in the river, some are simply trying to hold on.  Wherever we find ourselves, however, may we have confidence that every step leads to this place, to Jesus' ministry, to his life, death, and resurrection.  It's all linked, and inescapable, and we are forever staring into the beautiful mystery of the incarcation!

Psalm 17:6-7

Psalm 17:6-7 

New International Version 

  If you were in trouble, who would you consider it within your right to be able to call for help?  

  If you were in another country, you could call on the embassy or ambassador, and as an American citizen, you'd expect the leaders to provide assistance to your case.  If you had trouble at work, your boss ought to be able to be relied upon to help you out.  Parents or family members are often relied upon when you need help.  Members of a congregation ought to do what they can to help one another.

  When I stop and think about it, I haven't done nearly enough in my life to deserve to be able to call upon the creator of the universe when I am in distress.  How does one appropriately honor the one who dresses Saturn with its rings?  Have I really lived like I owe everything to the God who designed both the sun and a T-Rex?  Do I pour out gratitude with every waking breath?  Or do I get so concerned with my reputation that I think I'm the center of the universe?

  And yet, despite my shortcomings, I am able to call upon God in my distress, and God hears my cry and comes to my aid.  

  Such love is beyond what I can imagine, and yet it is real, pouring into my heart in every moment.

  May we take some time to fully appreciate such miracles today.

Joshua 2:15-16

Joshua 2:15-16 

English Standard Version

  Oh, look, another 3 day time frame where people will go wait and then return with good news.  What a surprise...

  The Old Testament is constantly looking ahead to the New, anticipating the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There are signposts throughout the journey to Bethlehem that help us see and understand how God is going to liberate the people from sin.  God didn't come up with Jesus as plan B -- God had been planning this all along, preparing for it, so that the whole world would eventually learn the Good News of Jesus Christ.

  So may we be students of the Old Testament, learning the history of the people who made a way forward -- they couldn't see everything, but they continued to press forward, continued to strive to be faithful, and in so doing, they help us understand even more clearly the grace and love of God.

Joshua 2:8-14

Joshua 2:8-14 

English Standard Version

  I'm willing to bet at some point this week, somebody will tell you about some extraordinary news story or some outrageous viral clip, and you'll go seek it out, because it sounds too amazing to be true.  We do this all the time -- it's the heartbeat of a viral social media-driven world, where people do wild things for likes and shares.

  Rahab and the people in Jericho had heard about the Israelites.  They'd heard stories and they heard rumors, and it changed the way they acted because of the stories that were told.

  So friends, tell your stories about what God is doing in your life.  Share the news of how God is at work in you.  Let these get out into the world around us, changing the world and changing lives and changing hearts and minds of people who hear about the things that God is doing.

Joshua 2:1-7

Joshua 2:1-7 

English Standard Version 

  What does courage in action look like?

  Rahab could've easily been killed for her actions.  She had no power in such a society.  Had she been found out, or even if they suspected deceit, she would've been cast aside, and many probably wouldn't have given her a second thought.

  But in the midst of the crucible, she protected Joshua's spies.  She was willing to stand up for what she believed was right and take a huge risk because of what she believed.  There was a great potential cost for her to pay if she was wrong, and yet she did not hesitate.

  Not many of us will have moments like this, but may we be in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world who have such strength and courage to stand up for what is right, even as great personal risk, and help the church continue to grow and spread throughout the world.

Joshua 1:6-9

Joshua 1:6-9 

English Standard Version 

  We like to teach our children to be strong and courageous, just as Joshua is instructed here, but I wonder if we always make the link between strength, courage, and meditating on Scripture.  Can we be truly strong and courageous without a thorough knowledge of God's Word?  Without that knowledge, you might always be worried about a stronger force, or about your own weakness coming through at the worst moment.  But with a knowledge of Scripture, you'll know that your strength and courage don't depend on you, but rather on what God has already done for you on the cross.  You can hold onto strength and courage in the midst of the trials of life because they don't depend on anything within you -- they depend solely on the God who exists outside of time and space, but who enters in so that you might know the fullness of God's love. 

Psalm 121:1-2

Psalm 121:1-2 

English Standard Version

  Have you ever been down in a valley?  I remember being in Zion National Park last year and looking up at the hills around.  It's beautiful there, but there's definitely a sense of being surrounded.  If I were in need, I couldn't climb up and out.

  Thanks be to God -- the God who carved that mountain is willing to come down over the hills and descend into the valley.  The Christian Gospel isn't a self-help message that trains us how to ascend the ladder to heaven.  The Gospel is the Good News that God comes down to deliver us while we're still in the valley depths, and we are brought up to heaven through the grace and mercy of God.

James 5:13-20

James 5:13-20 

English Standard Version 

  The book of James is filled with everyday guidance.  It helps us know how to treat one another, how to react to setbacks, how to handle life.  It gives us wisdom that is real and actionable, and through it all, it points to the eternal life made possible through the grace and peace and mercy of God.  

  May we all seek to have the prayer life that James points to, where our first instinct is to turn to God, individually and collectively.  May we find Biblical characters and prayers that we can relate to, that teach us about ourselves and about God, and offer us encouragement as we see the ways they have failed and the ways God delivers regardless of our shortcomings.  

James 5:12

James 5:12 

English Standard Version 

  Why do we lie?  

  I wonder how much of it is driven by our need to maintain an image.  Sometimes, we're afraid of what the truth would reveal about us.  We're afraid that the truth might show something to others that we don't want to be seen.  We hide it, because we're trying to hold onto something, no matter if it's not eternally important.  We often lie just for us.

  So James tells us to be truthful.  The truth often isn't easy, and it can hurt sometimes... but clinging to the truth, and the truth alone, can help us learn how to trust in God and in God alone, to focus on how beloved and treasured we are by God.  We learn that a community based in honesty and humility can be authentic and can be relied upon in times of need -- we don't have to carry a false image into such a place, but can be open with one another, encouraging one another, and finding healing.

James 5:7-11

James 5:7-11 

English Standard Version 

  Agriculture is such a great metaphor for the spiritual life.  I wonder how much of the impact of various teachings we miss because we live so far from the land.  Farming involves great patience and trust -- a seed is planted, the soil is cared for, and then there is waiting.  It's active waiting, but it's also a lot of trusting in things that are beyond one's control.  When trust is enough, then one can remain steadfast in the face of opposition.

  What qualities of God would you want to know more about that would help you be steadfast in the face of suffering?  God wants to give us what we need to help us endure.  I think I often have a different idea as to what I need than God does, and much of that is driven by the fact that I don't have complete trust in God -- I am trying to retain control, so that things turn out the way I want them to.  Growing in faith for me is learning to let go of control and trusting in God's bigger vision for my eternal life, not simply for the earthly one.  

James 5:1-6

James 5:1-6

English Standard Version 

  James isn't known for his subtlety, and the Bible isn't often kind to those who value riches above all else.  The Bible is a complex document, and it's approach to money certainly isn't simplistic.  We shouldn't automatically dismiss these words and move on, but we read them in context with other places Scripture talks about money.  It's a warning -- greed captures our hearts so easily, and often without us noticing.  Greed is one of those sins that we can do without realizing it.  We know when we steal something, or when we gossip, but greed can happen without our noticing.  

  May we be very careful about how we deal with money, recognizing its power and the promises it makes.  It often doesn't intend to keep those promises, but it doesn't matter -- by the time we're in its clutches, it can be too late to see the way it corrodes our hearts.  Of what eternal value is money?  We'll lose it all eventually anyway, so may we see it for what it is -- a tool that can be of great use here on earth, but it cannot deliver us, and it cannot save us.  It cannot fulfill the deepest desires of our hearts.  It can bring great joy if we use it wisely, and it can be a tool to build community if we use it well.  We can learn generosity through good stewardship of money, among other things.  Obsessing over it can eat away at the attentions of our hearts... whether we have it or not.  Thinking about ways to share what we have, ways to bless others -- that can enrich us, that can deepen our connections with each other and help us see God at work in ourselves and the community.

Psalm 111:1-5

Psalm 111:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  Martin Luther talked about the human heart as a factory of idols -- we are constantly dividing our hearts, chasing lesser gods that seem closer and easier.  Will they bring us the same delight that God can?  Of course not -- but they'll promise similar delight, and we won't realize until later that it's not the fullness of joy.  We settle for the available, missing out on God's mercy and grace because we're spiritually lazy.

  Thanks be to God that God remembers the covenant made with God's people, that God is gracious and merciful, that we have another day to seek God once more -- God's mercies are new every morning.  

  On this day, as we marvel at the eclipse, may we give thanks that no matter how many obstacles we put in between ourselves and God, the light continues to shine and God continues to pursue us.

James 4:13-17

James 4:13-17 

English Standard Version

  The book of James is not subtle -- it comes straight at us, giving us little room to duck.  We can choose to ignore these words if we like, but we do so with a full understanding of what we're being asked and told.  I'll freely confess that I can make idols out of my plans -- I tend to think that I know what is best, which leads me to being upset at God when my plans don't materialize.  If God is leading me in a different direction, then surely God doesn't fully understand how great my plans are!  And I'll be honest... my plans don't always revolve around selfless love of others, around service, around gratitude.  They often involve around building my own kingdom!

  So James confronts us and gives us time and space to think about these things.  May we be honest about our failures, rely on the grace of God, and rejoice that God covers our failures with love and makes a path forward through death itself into life eternal.

James 4:11-12

James 4:11-12 

English Standard Version 

  I've heard some interesting sermons related to this over the past few years, and they've helped me understand.  Think about it this way -- if you look through the list of laws in your state or city and pick the ones you want to follow, discarding the rest, you're taking a position of authority over those laws.  You're deciding that you know better than the people who made those laws, and that you get to decide which are the best and which can be discarded.

  Now apply that to God's law.  If we judge the law, we're doing the same thing -- telling God that we know better, that we are the best authority, that we have judgment rights on the law.  Even if we only exclude one that we really, really don't like, it's still a grab at authority over the law and over God.  Therefore, we have to accept all of God's law if we are to accept God's authority.

  To do so means to accept that we sin and fall short of it, but it also pushes us towards amazement, because despite falling short of the law, God embraces us and redeems us.  And if I am broken and sinful and yet redeemed, who am I to harshly judge others as unworthy of God's redeeming grace?

James 4:6-10

James 4:6-10 

English Standard Version 

  Verse six might sum up most of the Bible -- you could write it after most of the times people mess things up.  You could write it after most of the things I mess up in life, too!  God gives more grace.  When we give God a reason to walk away, God gives more grace.  The challenge for us is to accept God's grace -- rather than try and find a way to dig ourselves out of whatever hole we're in through our own efforts, can we sit back, humbly accept our weakness, and trust in God?  Can will exalt those who humble themselves, because they're the ones who know the only path forward is through the righteousness of Christ.  That's how we turn our mourning into laughter -- we mourn for our failures, but we laugh when the world tries to tell us those are the end, because we know that it's really only a new beginning, made possible because God gives more grace.

Psalm 85:10-13

Psalm 85:10-13 

English Standard Version 

  Here's the picture of heaven that the Psalmist gives us.  Righteousness and peace, which feel like they're so far apart due to our divided world, will one day come together -- there won't be any more animosity and strife driving them apart.  What a joyous day that will be!

  Easter reminds my often discouraged heart to be hopeful, to find joy in the world, and rejoice in all that God has done and is still doing.  God is not giving up, and so let us hold fast to one another and hold fast to hope, all the while working so that steadfast love and faithfulness will abound in this world and in our lives, that they may meet, springing up due to God's love.