The Testimony of Others “Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something?I will return it to you.” “You haven’t wronged us,Read More …

Put Away Evil You must purge the evil from you.—Deuteronomy 22:21b It is a dangerous and costly mistake not to take temptation seriously. The sad testimony of many who have succumbed to sin’s enticements is that they thought they were strong enough to remain in the midst of temptation andRead More …

Giving Your Best “You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a defect or any serious flaw, for that is detestable to the Lord your God.”—Deuteronomy 17:1 God’s love moved Him to sacrifice that which meant the most to Him—His only Son. Our response,Read More …

Now! “Lord,” another of His disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.”—Matthew 8:21 Often our struggle as Christians is not in deciding whether we should obey Christ but in obeying immediately. We may acknowledge our need to follow Christ and commit ourselves to do what He has toldRead More …

A Jealous God For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.—Deuteronomy 4:24 Our God is a consuming fire. He is satisfied only when His love totally consumes us. We usually think of a jealous person as someone resentful and suspicious, but the Lord’s jealousy on ourRead More …

Not One Word Has Failed “. . . and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.”—Joshua 23:14 Near the end of his life, Joshua tookRead More …

Clean Hands; a Pure Heart Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.—Psalm 24:3–4a God has rigid requirements for those who want to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. There is no easy accessRead More …

Asking for Mountains “Now give me this hill country the Lord promised [me] on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.”—Joshua 14:12 Caleb’sRead More …

Delivered into Your Hand The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.”—Joshua 10:8 No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian than theRead More …

A Loyal Heart “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His. You have been foolish in this matter, for from now on, you will have wars.”—2 Chronicles 16:9 If your heart is loyal to God, you doRead More …