Joshua 1:8
"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).
v. 41 "and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile"
ReplyDelete-Sure you don't want to run the shamrock? ;)
v. 46-8 were convicting... "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"
-Reminds me of when we talked about "loving people" versus loving specific, individual people. And I know, at least for myself, there is a difference between being friendly/nice and actually loving someone. Of course we (I) claim that some people are hard to love/harder to love but God loves me (and everyone) despite how difficult we are to love... I like how it ends- we should all be striving for perfection. Not hard at all right?
Yeah, this chapter left me wondering how incapable I am of following most, if any, of the commands. God knows we're not perfect, yet he asks us to pursue perfection. This is why we need a savior. And why we need to be constantly asking God for forgiveness when we fail and strength to get up and press on.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting that everything instructed in this chapter addresses the inward, yet we're to be a city on a hill, a light, salt. I believe this is why those who are persecuted for righteousness sake are called blessed. Anyone can say they believe something but it's when one actually has something at stake, has to pass through fire, that one's true beliefs are displayed - both to the "believer" and to those watching. Only the truly righteous are willing to be persecuted for righteousness' sake.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
ReplyDeleteThis is challenging...
Josh can I borrow $100 ;)
ReplyDeleteHa! Like I said, challenging. Although, it doesn't say anything about charging interest...
ReplyDeletehaha...
ReplyDelete