Monday, May 11
Readings for today: Joshua 8:1-2, Mark 4:1-9

“And he said to them; He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Mark 4:9

What great words and awesome teaching to the disciples from our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians in our daily walk and trials, when we seek the Lord for guidance and answers, our ears need to be open. We accomplish this through our personal relationship with Him every day.

Sunday, May 10th

Reading for today: Joshua 7:22-26, Mark 3:20-35

“But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’”  Mark 3:21

Jesus knows our struggles and pains.  He experienced them too.  Even those who were “His own” thought He was out of His mind.  Remember that the next time you get a strange look when you stand up for what you believe.

Saturday, May 9th

Reading for today: Joshua 7:20-21, Mark 3:7-19

“…a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.”  Mark 3:8b

We need to share the things that God is doing in our lives - that is how we will help bring the multitudes to Him.  Do you even know what He is doing?  You need to be moving so that you can recognize His hand upon your life - get up and get moving!

Thursday, May 7th

Reading for today: Joshua 7:13-15, Mark 2:23-28

“…There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”  Joshua 7:13b

Unless we remove the things that cause us to sin, we will be vulnerable to our enemy.  He will have a foothold, and soon a stronghold, in our lives.  Cast away those accursed things.

Wednesday, May 6th

Reading for today: Joshua 7:10-12, Mark 2:18-22

“Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.”  Joshua 7:12b

We are commanded to honor God with our bodies (1 Cor 6:20).  We are told that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).  God is repulsed by the accursed things we do with our bodies and our minds, and He will not be with us if we continue in these destructive lifestyles.  You must destroy the accursed things.

Tuesday, May 5th

Reading for today: Joshua 7:6-9, Mark 2:13-17

“When Jesus heard it, He said to them,… ‘I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”  Mark 2:17

Was Jesus implying that the Pharisees were “righteous?”  I will go to a physician when it is clear to me that I need one.  Sinners need Jesus, and they go to Him.  The righteous do not; rather, they need to first understand that they too are sinners.  “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).  “All our righteousness are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Monday, May 4th

Reading for today: Joshua 7:1-5, Mark 2:1-12

“…Son, your sins are forgiven you.”  Mark 2:5b

How astonishing this must have been to the people around Him!  How can a man forgive sins?  Jesus also proved that He is God by healing the paralytic. Which action was more important: the forgiveness of sin or the healing word? Our joy is in our salvation, not our circumstances.

Reading for today: Joshua 6:25-27, Mark 1:40-45

“And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot…because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”  Joshua 6:25

So often we think of a harlot as an awful, dirty, sinful person - which is true from God’s perspective of sin.  God hates sin.  But we forget that there is no sin that is “better” to God.  All sin is equal.  So whether you stole something, killed someone, committed adultery, or just told a “little white lie,” it is all sin which God hates.  As we read how Joshua spared Rehab because she chose to honor God, it reminds us that everyone who has sinned can have forgiveness and a new life if they will turn to God.

Reading for today: Joshua 6:20-24, Mark 1:35-39

“….the wall fell down flat.  Then the people went up into the city… and they took the city.”  Joshua 6:20

Once again God has fulfilled a promise to His people.  As we approach the end of this amazing chapter, take some time to reflect on God’s faithfulness to us.  “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?  Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?  God specializes in things thought impossible.  He does the things others cannot do.” unknown.

Reading for today: Joshua 6:15-19, Mark 1:29-34

“And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!’”  Joshua 6:16

Imagine the thoughts that were going through the people of Jericho at this time.  Wonder, ridicule, and (the Bible tells us) fear because they had heard the things that God had done for the people of Israel before.  But what excitement there must be in the camp of Israel!  Today is the day of God’s promised victory!