Reaching Generations: Year One Day 137 Devotional

Passage: Judges 2:6-3:6
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 137

Joshua 2:7-10

7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and another generation rose up after them who did not know the Lord, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.

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The saying is true: a church is always one generation away from turning its back on God. Notice, I did say “the Church.” The Church will stand and remain. Somewhere, there will always be the faithful.

But local churches and Christian parents must be diligent in passing on the faith. If the next generation rejects it, that is on them. But, let it not be said that they didn’t know.

Father, I pray that each of my children will know and follow You obediently. I pray the same for their children and all generations that follow. Finally, I pray that the Church will remain faithful to reach every generation.

Psalm 137:1 (NASB)

By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and wept,
When we remembered Zion.

Don’t Compromise: Year One Day 136 Devotional

Passage: Judges 1:1-2:5
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 136

Joshua 2:1-5

Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, 2 and as for you, you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this thing that you have done? 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from you; but they will become like thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.’” 4 Now when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people raised their voices and wept. 5 So they named that place Bochim; and there they sacrificed to the Lord.

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God commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanites. God had set those peoples aside for judgment. Further, if Israel compromised with them, they would also compromise on matters of faith and worship.

God does not command us to drive out the “heathen” today, but He warns us against compromise with the world. Any compromise weakens our witness, faith, and relationship with God. Therefore, if we are to see renewal and revival in disciple-making and missions, we must purify our lives from every compromise with the world.

Father, the damage from compromise is too great for us to delay. Purge our hearts. Examine us and point out every wicked way. Renew us, please, O Lord our God.

Psalm 136:23-26 (NASB)

Who remembered us in our lowliness,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
And has rescued us from our enemies,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
Who gives food to all flesh,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.

Psalm 135 Reading: Year One Day 135 Devotional

Passage: Catch up by reading through the end of Joshua.
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 135

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Psalm 135:5-7 (NASB)

For I know that the Lord is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
In heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the ocean depths.
He causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth,
He makes lightning for the rain;
He brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

Joshua and Bob Dylan: Year One Day 133 Devotional

Passage: Joshua 24
Psalm and Proverbs: Psalm 133

Joshua 24:14-15

14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and [b]truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

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“You’re gonna have to serve somebody” is a line from a Bob Dylan song. It reflects the human condition. Joshua addressed this condition as his life neared its close.

“Who will you serve,” he asked. Even after so many great signs and wonders, the people carried little gods in their minds if not in their pockets. So Joshua confronted them and asked which they would serve: God or little gods?

What does the evidence of my life reveal about who I serve? Do I serve God and Him alone, or am I serving idols of ambition and recognition? Do I pursue eternal treasure or an earthly one? Whose kingdom do I seek—His or mine? We must answer Joshua’s charge every day: “Choose today who you will serve.”

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody[1]

Father, today I choose to serve You. Help me empty my mind and pocket of all the little gods I carry. You are my audience of One. You alone are God. My life belongs to You. I confess that other things allure me and other pursuits distract me. So keep me today to this one commitment—to serve You.

Psalm 133:1 (NASB)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to live together in unity!

[1] Bob Dylan, Gotta Serve Somebody, http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/gotta-serve-somebody/.