April 16- Standing on the Promises

April 16, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17;
Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

~Russell K. Carter

Joshua 13:1-14:15

One childhood memory that most of us have experienced is the feeling of disappointment when a friend or sibling doesn't come through on a promise.  These were not big promises, but they were promises none the less.  Perhaps your sibling told you that after a period of time you could have the chair they were sitting in which was closer to the television.  Maybe it was that you could borrow a shirt to wear to the movies.  A friend might  have promised that they were going to spend the night on Friday night and then they didn't show up.  Broken promises stink.  Today we meet a man who is both vigorous and hopeful.  He is standing on the unbroken promises of God.

As our reading begins, Joshua is an old man.  He has accomplished his mission of being an excellent general in God's army.  Now his body is wearing out and God calls him to apportion the land as designated by Moses.  As part of this process, a delegation from the tribe of Judah comes before him.  The delegation is led by Caleb.  Remember Caleb?  He was the other spy along with Joshua who went to the Promised Land with the 12 spies and brought back a positive report about going in and taking the land. As a result of his faith, God promised Caleb the land that included the city of Hebron. This is the same area that Abraham settled many years before.

As we meet Caleb again he is eighty-five years old but in great health, as strong as he's ever been, and still able to fight! What has this man been eating?  How can we all get some of what he's got?  Caleb gives us a clue as to why he is in such good shape.  Here is his explanation in Joshua 14:10:

"Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise-even while Israel wandered in the wilderness."

What is the key to Caleb's health and vigorous life?  It is his faith in God's promises. During all of those years of wandering in the desert, while his unfaithful companions withered away and died, Caleb flourished and grew by relying on God's promises to him. What a beautiful picture. Caleb is going to fight the Anakite giants in order to claim Hebron. His faith, even in old age, is going to defeat enormous challenges.

Do you stand on God's promises in your life?  Do you fight the giants in your life with faith?  Have you claimed the peace and goodness of the promised Christian life because it has been promised to you by God who can accomplish all things?  Belief makes all of this possible.

Luke 18:1-17

Jesus tells a parable that dove-tails nicely with Caleb's story.  It is the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent woman.  This is the story of a judge who is crooked and easily bribed.  The woman is ferocious in her requests.  Even though this is an unjust judge, he gets worn down by her aggressive behavior and gives in to her just requests.  What is Jesus' point?  Are we in this type of relationship with God?  No, his point is that God is a just judge.  He listens to our prayer requests like a just judge, not a crooked judge. He is concerned with our needs.  We do not have to bludgeon Him to get His response.  Do you realize that He is actively listening to your requests and He is just?

Next, we have another story about prayer.  In this story we have the Pharisee who prays with a proud heart, assuming that he is better than other people.  We also have the tax collector who stands at a distance, eyes cast down, asking for God's mercy.  What is the lesson?  Jesus teaches us to go to God as a humble sinner to make our requests.  The proud will be brought low, but the humble will be lifted up. 

Do you remember to recount your sins to God with humility?  Jesus wants to help those who see their sins and are remorseful. Prayer is an important part of your relationship with God. Pray persistently, knowing that God is just and hears your prayers.  Also, pray with a humble heart. God loves the humble.

Psalm 85:1-13

Verse 2 says, "You have forgiven the guilt of your people-yes, you have covered all of their sins."  Amen.

Proverbs 13:7-8

Here is a proverb about pretending you are something that you are not.  That is what the Pharisees did in today's parable about prayer.

What did you see?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011