The Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous and then He told him how.

Strength and courage are required today in the face of so many uncertainties. God’s ability, to perform His promises, is ready and ours to expect. But, when fear and dismay take over through our senses and life experiences, we retreat into unbelief. The Lord told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night, muttering it and pondering it with His mouth. He promised Joshua that he would then be able to observe to do and be prosperous and have good success. Joshua 1:1-9

We begin Joshua on Monday and 2 Corinthians today along with Luke’s gospel. Ezekiel ramps up and Psalms continue to lift us up. Our reading together gives us one mind and one mouth to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-7

Luke 1 – 7

John the Baptist and Jesus’ births are recorded. Jesus is in His Father’s house, and is age twelve, as His calling comes alive in His heart. But after He submits Himself to His parents and learns the carpenter trade until age thirty. Jesus overcame everything through His submission to the Father. Baptism, testing, Spirit of the Lord upon Him in power, launch Him into ministry. Calling His disciples, miracles, and the ways of His kingdom are given.

2 Corinthians 1 – 9

Paul, having addressed the divisions and sins of Corinth and the admonishments to walk in Christ’s holiness in the first book, now brings Corinth into greater understanding into his heart, and their hearts. He shares his own death sentence and God’s purpose, all promises fulfilled in Christ, forgiveness to the one who had offended to keep Satan from gaining an advantage. Chapters Three through Five give such an amazing picture of the two covenants and our walking by faith and not by sight. Chapters Six and Seven continue Paul’s call to walk in Christ’s holiness. In Chapters Eight and Nine, Paul’s heart as a father is to see that giving is fulfilled in cheerfulness and faith.

Deuteronomy 34

Moses goes to Mount Nebo and is shown all the promised land. There he dies at one hundred and twenty, fully alive.

Joshua 1 – 8

Joshua is now Israel’s leader and is given the promise and instruction on how he is to lead fearlessly. It’s the word of God meditated on day and night. Spies are sent into Jericho, crossing over the Jordan, memorial stones, circumcision, and then the destruction of Jericho occurred in Chapters Two through Six. The sin of Archan was that he kept for himself the spoils of Jericho after the Lord had declared it was all His. Defeat. Joshua is dismayed, then the sin is dealt with. Then Ai falls.

Psalm 99 – 103

The Lord reigns; Let the peoples tremble! Psalm 99:4 These Psalms activate faith and praise. Psalm 103 is one of my favorites.

Ezekiel 13 – 17

God’s rebuke to the prophets who envision futility rather than repentance. Idolatry will be punished. In Chapter Sixteen, God recounts His love for Jerusalem at her birth, into marriage, and then her adultery against Him. The judgment that is coming, cannot be diverted through the efforts of man, but will then God plant a humble people and exalt His people again.