Joshua 3:17 “And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

DRY GROUND

God performed another miracle for the Hebrew children.  This time He parted the waters of the Jordan.  But instead of sending a strong wind to do it over night, like He did at the Red Sea forty years earlier, He simply had the priests step into the flood level Jordan and the water stopped about 12 miles upstream and the rest flowed on down.

But God didn’t stop there.  He DRIED the ground.  With all the women, children and livestock, walking across a recently emptied river bed would have been messy and slow.  So, what did God do?  He dried the ground so they could cross without getting stuck.  God is a God of details.

TEACHING MOMENT

One of the things I grab from this story is that God doesn’t just haphazardly work in our lives.  He is deliberate and thoughtful.  He does things right.  He wants everything to be perfect, as He is perfect.  In fact, He demands that we be perfect, too.  Now, He knows we can’t be, but He still expects us to strive toward perfection by allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us.

Can you imagine what those little children thought when they saw the waters flowing on by and the riverbed dry up?  Talk about that with your kids.  They may have been looking for fish or frogs or other “critters” on the riverbed.  Wouldn’t your little Elrod been doing that?  I sure would have.  Visual this story with your children.  Talk about the miracles God continues to do in our lives every day.

Do you believe God is still a God of miracles?  I do.  I have seen Him do miraculous things.  I got to hold a newborn baby recently.  That’s a miracle.  I had the privilege to lead three people to Christ.  That’s a miracle.  I have seen Him heal people who should have died and have also seen Him heal others by allowing them to die.  Those are both miracles.  Don’t ignore God’s handiwork all around you.

Too many of us want to see a “Jordan” parted.  We ask for those kind of miracles or signs.  But God is working all around us.  He works in ways we cannot see.  Open your eyes and ask Him to reveal Himself to you today.  You might just be surprised at what He is doing in your presence.

2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” 

SLAVES TO HIM

I can still hear Ron Dunn, an evangelist I knew, preach “Chained to His Chariot.”  He used this text to share how we have been made slaves to Christ through our surrender of our will to His.  Just as the Roman generals would chain their defeated foes to their chariots and lead them into the city upon their return home, we are chained to the “chariot” of Christ, willingly and obediently following Him.

My problem is I keep pulling at the chains.  I want to go my own way.  I want to be identified with Christ, but I also want to be the one leading the chariot.  Have you ever felt that way?  Come on, be honest.  We all do from time to time.

TEACHING MOMENT

Obedience and surrender of our will to the Father is a sweet thing, if we will just do it.  It gives us such freedom because everything becomes the responsibility of the Master.  He directs our every step.  We simply do as He asks.  We are NOT mind numb robots, but we are eager to serve and please Him.

Parents, that is exactly why we teach our children obedience.  We are preparing them to be obedient to the Father.  We are teaching them to be obedient to a future employer.  We are simply teaching them submission.  A child that won’t submit to the authority of their parents is a child destined to struggle in all other relationships in the future.  I truly believe that.

So, are you helping your child by letting them have their way?  Are you really preparing them for a successful future by allowing them to dictate what and when they do things you have asked them to do?  I believe in giving children choices, but there also needs to be some boundaries which they cannot cross.

I don’t know about you, but I need to get back behind that chariot, readjust my chains and simply follow my Master.  Why?  Because I know He will only lead me where He is going!

Best Verse: Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.”

FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN

This verse in Psalm 113 is pretty clear.  We are to praise the Lord all day, every day.  From the time the sun rises until the sun sets we are to have our minds on Him.  From the time our eyes open until we shut them at night, we should have our focus on Him.

Is that possible? How do you do that?  I do not believe we are to be on our knees all day.  We can’t spend every awake moment in a perpetual state of worship.  We would be so heavenly minded we wouldn’t be any earthly good.  But we can measure all our words and thoughts through Him.  We can bring His Word to remembrance as we converse with others throughout the day.

TEACHING MOMENT

What a sweet concept to teach our children.  If we can get them, at an early age, to keep their minds on the Lord Jesus each day, most of the issues they will face will be much easier.  Notice I said much easier, not easy.  God does not promise us a bed of roses, contrary to what many believe.  My brother-in-law used to say, “The Christian life isn’t for sissies.”  LOL.

But, man oh man, when we have our eyes on Him, it does all make sense.  He will reveal to us, when we are ready, why He allows all things to come our way.  He is constantly preparing us for eternity.  He is chiseling off the big chunks of self and sandpapering the rough edges.  When the Master Builder gets through with us, all others see is Jesus.  Don’t you want that for your child?

How about you, though?  Are you willing to focus your attention on Him?  What might you have to give up each day to do that?  I just returned from a two week trip overseas where I did not have access to television.  I did not miss it one bit.  But just after a couple of days home, I find myself drifting back into the habit or sitting and watching eternally void programs.  I am committing to stop that today.

I know my time, no I should say His time, is much more valuable than tv time.  I am not going to be legalistic about it, but I am going to be more frugal.  I want to give more of myself to Him, so I will become more like Him.  I already have ALL of Him.  He just can’t disclose Himself fully until I am willing to let go of stuff.

Will you join me today in laying it all down from sunup to sundown?  Let King Jesus reign in your life today!!!

Psalm 108:1 “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.”

UNMOVABLE

I just love this picture of our hearts in this verse.  We who are believers “fix” or “nail down” our hearts with God.  Nothing in this world can move them.  We are attached to God, Whom we know is unmovable.  The gates of hell may come against us, but we shall not be moved.

Have you ever been in a hurricane?  I lived in Florida for 8 years and went through several. The winds can be incredible.  I will never forget during one storm in which the roof of our house creaked and moaned.  It was a category 3 storm and had winds over 111 mph.  The roof held because it was attached properly with hurricane straps.  Even though it felt the brunt of the storm, it held.

TEACHING MOMENT

Teaching our children about being “fixed” on Jesus is an important part of our discipling them. They need to know that when their heart is attached to Him, nothing can move them.  They can decide to move, but that is their choice.  But they cannot blame the world or anything in it.  If they rely on God to keep them fast, there is no power in heaven or on earth that can move them.

Our children will learn that best by watching us face life’s storms.  We should be like the Psalmist in this verse. We should choose to sing praises, even with our souls.  Singing in the midst of storms allows us to practice that peace that comes from within.

Are you praising Him today?  Are you allowing your children to see you remaining steadfast in your heart to God?  If we look toward Him He will hold us close.  He longs to hold us.  He wants to feel us close.  He WANTS us to depend on Him.  There is nothing weak about relying on Him.

The world will tell us we are using Him as a crutch.  That’s okay.  I admit that I am a cripple.  I admit that I am feeble.  I admit that I am helpless.  But with Him as my crutch, I have access to the power of the universe, to the All Powerful One, to the Creator of all things.

Who needs an energy drink or a power booster when you have Jesus!  Stay fixed on Him!

Deuteronomy 34:5-6 “5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day.”

PRIVATE BURIAL

Isn’t it amazing that the only person whom God buried was buried in a private, “for family only” service?  Why was that?  I think there were a couple of reasons.  First, if the people had known Moses’ gravesite it would have become a shrine.  God did not want that.  Secondly, God needed to be alone with Moses when He died.  He did not want a crowd of millions wailing and crying over Moses’ death.

God had a personal, intimate relationship with Moses.  Perhaps, other than Adam and Eve in the Garden, Moses was the closest to Jehovah.  God loved him and chose him for a very specific purpose.  Now that was done, God wanted Moses to come home, his real home – Glory.

TEACHING MOMENT

Death is reality.  We parents do not need to shield our children from this.  They need to know that when someone dies, we will NOT see them again this side of eternity.  Depending on their salvation status (saved or lost) we may or may not see them there.  Telling our children anything else is deceptive and not helpful.  You need to decide at what age it is appropriate for them to know this, but don’t hide this truth from them.

I have heard parents tell their children that grandma or grandpa had to “go away” and one day they would see them again in heaven.  Two things are wrong with this.  They didn’t “go away.”  They died.  And secondly, they will only see them again if they both end up in the same place, heaven or hell.

This may be the heaviest devotion I have written.  Speaking of where someone will spend eternity is sobering, but it is so important.  Are you sure where you are going one day?  Do you know for sure that you will spend eternity with our loving Savior?

How about your children?  Have they asked the Lord Jesus in their hearts to secure their name in the Lamb’s Book of Life?  There is no other decision on earth that is more important.

When others come to your graveside one day (should the Lord tarry His return), what will they say?  Will they know where your spirit is residing at that moment.  Let them know while you are still alive that you will be HOME!

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 “48 The Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying, 49 ‘Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession. 50 Then die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51  because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52For you shall see the land at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.’”

EVEN LEADERS

No one is exempt from the consequences of disobedience.  I had to include all these verses today so you could be reminded of why Moses could not enter the Promised Land.  Of all people, didn’t he deserve to go?  He was the one who led the people.  He was the one who confronted Pharaoh.  Why wouldn’t the Lord allow Him to enter the land promised to His people?

Today we think we can “get by” with the things we do.  We should be reminded that we all have consequences for actions that go against God’s commands. And we, as leaders and parents, have even a more strict consequence.  We are leading others.  We cannot be allowed to lead them to destruction.

TEACHING MOMENT

This teaching moment is much more directed at you, Mom and Dad.  What are you doing, in word or deed, that could mislead your children?  What are you showing them that is not pleasing to the Lord?  Do you think the Lord would be happy with everything you model for your children?

I am NOT trying to be legalistic.  I am far from that.  But I do mean we need to be very careful how we lead.  There are always little eyes watching us.  We cannot afford to be lax for one second.  One small act kept Moses from entering the Promised Land.  Wow!

Will you allow the Lord today to direct your every step?  He will show you where to place your feet along the path.  It may not seem like the best route to you, but trust Him.  He knows the way much better than you.

Deuteronomy 29:5 “I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.”

How many of you have worn hand-me-downs?  You know, the clothes your older siblings wore?  When I was growing up I would get some of my older brother’s clothes.  I couldn’t wear his pants because my legs were so big I wore husky-plus pants. Don’t laugh!  But I did wear a lot of his shirts and shoes.

The children of Israel had 40 years of hand-me-downs.  It says their clothes did not wear out, nor did their sandals.  Now, how would you feel wearing your grandparents’ hand-me-downs?  Lol.  The point of this is the Lord took care of them down to the very stitch of clothing and the soles of their feet.

TEACHING MOMENT

The next time you pass down some clothing from one child to another (now, don’t make your son wear his older sister’s clothes, lol), remind them of this story.  Passing down clothing is a good way to fully utilize a resource God has blessed us with.  If you don’t have other children, pass them down to another family or a thrift shop that can sell them.

Your child probably will not want to wear those hand-me-downs.  And don’t make them wear something inappropriate for them.  But they need to know that we are to be thankful for everything we receive from the Lord, even hand-me-downs.

How about you?  What has the Lord “passed down” to you?  Are you avoiding “wearing” it?  Perhaps, your church has appointed you, due to your giftedness, to handle a responsibility there.  Are you rejecting that?  If you know that “fits”, you must pick it up and serve.

We tend to reject hand-me-downs.  We prefer the newest fashions.  God, however, has been passing down hand-me-downs for generations.  We should gladly receive any and all hand-me-downs He gives us.  That seemingly worn out “gift” may be just what we need to fulfill our walk with Him.

You see, just as we parents know what will fit our children, the Father knows exactly what will fit us.  Trust Him to “fit” you.  He knows our size.

I Corinthians 14:12 “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.”

IMPORTANT THINGS

This chapter in I Corinthians is a much debated topic – speaking in tongues.  I am NOT going to get into that debate here.  Instead I want to look at the verse above.  You see, Paul says very plainly that the purpose of any gift which the Lord has given us is to build up the church, not ourselves.

I have experienced churches where speaking in tongues is emphasized.  But I have never seen this verse emphasized in those same churches.  Things that divide or things that seem to put some above others do not build up.  That’s the bottom line.  We must be about edifying and encouraging our brothers and sisters.  We should not do anything that is going to belittle or shame them.

TEACHING MOMENT

So, how do you teach this to our kids?  Okay, I sound like a broken record – you have to model it.  Our children need to see us building others up.  They are watching us, right?  They should know that we are all about helping others grow.

Now that also refers to how we talk about others in their presence.  Have you ever talked negatively about a fellow believer in front of your kids?  They are listening to that. They are storing that away and will use it to model how they talk about people.

May I encourage you today to focus on what you can do to encourage a brother or sister in Christ?  Will you come alongside your Pastor to build up the church?  Allow the Spirit of God to direct you in the words you use as you talk about others.

I know the Father has given all the gifts for our good.  And with each gift, He expects us to use it to glorify Him.  If you can figure out a way to use your gift, no matter what it is, to build yourself up and glorify Him, go for it.  I don’t see how that’s possible, though.

Allow the Lord to show you how to use your gift for His glory.

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 “1 Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and live in it, 2 that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name.”

FIRST FRUITS

Everything we have belongs to God.  He is the One who blesses us each day with food, drink, clothing, housing, etc.  He is the Great Benefactor.  But He is not just that.  He also expects us to honor Him by giving back in worship.

The people were commanded to give the Lord the first fruits of the land after they entered it.  They would remember Him by giving to Him. Did God need these offerings?  Of course not.  He is THE ALL.  He can make something out of nothing.  He doesn’t NEED our offerings.  But He smiles when we give back to Him in recognition of all He has given us.

TEACHING MOMENT

One of my regrets is that I don’t think I taught my children to give to the Lord.  I mean, we talked about it and I encouraged them to give, but I didn’t really sit down and explain the giving process to them fully.  They are both adults now, and they have to decide that on their own.

Talk to your children about giving.  Set up a jar in which they can deposit their offering money for the Lord.  They can tithe of their allowance or from any chores they do for pay.  They can tithe of any gifts they receive from friends or family.  But don’t just show them how to give.  Tell them why we give.  That will stay with them forever.

What are your first fruits?  Where are they?  Does God just get your crumbs?  He wants to bless you more than you know.  Giving to Him expresses to Him that we KNOW from whom our blessings come.

Let God remind you of the joy of giving.

I Corinthians 12:11 “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

ALL ARE VALUED

There is much discussion about the gifts of the Spirit in churches.  Some churches value some gifts over other gifts.  Some people claim to have a gift which brings them recognition.  Others exercise their gift quietly and behind the scenes.  The bottom line is that the gifts are a critical and essential part of the church.  The church can not function unless the gifts are being used by the Lord’s followers.

Take the gift of service for instance.  Without volunteers to clean the church, who would want to come to church and wade through trash and use a dirty bathroom.  How about the gift of teaching?  What would worship look like if we did not have the Word taught to us?  Well, that’s probably a bad example since in many churches that just doesn’t happen.  Lol

TEACHING MOMENT

Your child will discover their gift(s) once they have surrendered their heart to the Lord and not before.  Now don’t get confused – talents aren’t gifts.  Those are two mutually exclusive things.  Having the gift of gab doesn’t mean you have the gift of preaching or teaching.  Being organized does not mean you have the gift of administration.

God can use your talents in the exercise of your gift(s), but not necessarily the other way around.  When your child comes to Christ begin watching for the gift the Spirit wants to emphasize through them.  It might just surprise you.

Are you using your gift(s) to honor the Lord?  Maybe you think you have used your gift long enough.  It is time for someone else to use theirs.  Nope!  God has given us our gift(s) to use until He calls us home.  What better way to go than to know you were using your gift(s) up until the moment you see Jesus.

If you are unsure of your gift(s), there are plenty of resources you can use that we lead you to that awareness.  Of course, the best way to discover your gift(s) is to ask the Lord.  Pray!  Ask the Lord, “Lord, I want to be used by you.  How would you use me?”  The way He directs you might just surprise you, too.