The Reading Plan Daily Devotions

There is a phenomenon happening right now during the Coronavirus crisis that we must not miss. God is systematically stripping every god, every idol we worship, and He’s doing it all across the world. Taken away from us are our idols of sports, entertainment, health, wealth, position, and power. One-by-one we find that the things we looked to for life and meaning are suddenly gone, stripped away by a marauding army of germs that we cannot even see.   This microscopic horde is no respecter of persons. The wealthiest or the poorest are not immune. Senators in the halls of government can fall as can the check-out lady at the nearest grocery store. Money can’t buy a deliverance, nor can position or human power. We have always been powerless, but this moment is reminding us of our frailty in no uncertain terms.   THE GODS WE WORSHIP   It has always been our great dilemma. From the beginning of time right up to this hour we have wrestled between which gods we will serve. We have been tempted

God knows how things are to operate. He has a plan for our lives and for His people and His kingdom. When we humbly follow His plan all is well. But when we violate His plan we miss what is best. And God is jealous for us to follow Him explicitly. He knows that if we miss this, we miss everything that matters and lasts. THE AI LESSON   Joshua had led the people in a glorious victory over Jericho because they had done precisely as God had instructed. One of God’s clear instructions about Jericho was that no one should take any spoils from the conquered city. This city was the first they conquered in the Promised Land. Therefore, the firstfruits belonged to God. This did not just pertain to Jericho—this was a principle that God had given for everything that anyone ever receives. The tithe, the firstfruits are to be reserved for God alone.     They went on to the next city, Ai, and suffered a terrible defeat. Joshua’s immediate response was to go to the Lord in prayer and find out what ha

Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15)   Joshua was standing "by Jericho." This was the very place where he had stood 40 years early that caused the hearts of his fellow spies to faint in unbelief and abort their trip into the land God had promised. Here today, Joshua stands, and, just like Moses before him at the burning bush, a greater Commander appears.    This was Jesus, appearing as he often did in the Old Testament,

Hard times happen … places where our back is against the wall and there seems to be no solution, nowhere to go. When our way has been thwarted or the path seemingly closed. When everything seems impossible and confusing. So, what do we do?   THE PROBLEM OF THE JORDAN   In Joshua, Chapter 3, the Israelites had wandered for 40 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Finally, their children, now grown, came to the Jordan, which was a raging river during that time of the year, impossible to cross.   What do you do when what you need seems unreachable?   FOLLOWING GOD IN THE CRISIS   God gave Joshua instructions to have the priests lead with the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the presence of God. When their feet touched the water of the Jordan, the river parted. In fact, it backed up from the city of Adam to the Dead Sea, a distance of 30 miles! The people walked across to the promised land on dry ground.   They met their problem head on and overcame it simply by follo

Everybody wants to be successful. Some achieve success in the eyes of the world. But how can we be a success in the eyes of God? How can we so live that eternity counts our lives as successful?   THE JOSHUA PLAN   Joshua was facing a formidable challenge. He was called by God to be the leader following one of the greatest leaders in human history, Moses. Yet for all of his greatness, Moses could not get the Israelites into the promised land. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Joshua is now charged to take this new generation into Canaan.   He must have been filled with a very natural fear, for God tells him three times in Joshua, Chapter 1, not to be afraid. And then God gives his leader the formula for success.   This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not comma

The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. ( Deuteronomy 33:27 )   All of us feel insecure at times. The confusion in our souls, the darkness of the world, the press of problems and difficulties can overwhelm us. We become fearful and stressed.   But for those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there is no need for anxiety; no cause for fear. God Himself is our refuge.   OUR DWELLING PLACE He is the “eternal” God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is no anxiety in heaven. No cause for fear. For our God is always victorious over His enemies and always takes care of His children.   There is no need to think that He will care for us in one season and not the next. His character and care are unchanging.   The Bible reminds us continually that He is a “place.” He is our refuge and "the righteous run into Him and are safe." Like a child fleeing into His parent’s bed in the midst of a storm, we are

Our great fears regarding anything and everything stems from the thought that we are alone. That we are in over our heads and there is no one to help us. Our inadequacy fuels our discouragement. And it should.   This is why God, who knows our frame, continually reminds all those who will trust Him of His sufficient presence. If you disregard Him, of course, you will know nothing of His presence and power. But if you turn to Him in humble faith, you will discover that He is abundantly available for help.   JOSHUA’S TASK … was overwhelming. He had apprenticed under one of the greatest leaders in human history. Now Moses turns to his protege and hands him the mantle of leadership, but he assures him with the Great Secret.   Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the

In our pride, we are quick to forget the order of things. When good things happen, we assume it was all because of us. When our possessions grow, we vainly stick out our chest and glory in what we have done. But this is simply a reaction borne out of our pride.   A REMINDER Israel needed to remember, right before they entered the Promised Land, who had led them and provided for them. They needed to get this straight. God comes through Moses and gives them a strong course correction.   Deuteronomy 8 11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; 12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of