Author Archives: chadzaucha

Here is today’s Bible reading: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4.

Luke 17:10 (NIV)
So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ “

Ever feel like you are doing God a favor by serving Him?  Like we have done a good deed so now He owes us?  Like we are not really that sinful and God is lucky to have us on HIs side?  I have.  How ridiculous.  

Joshua 9:14 (NIV)
The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.

Big mistake.  The men of Israel thought this one was a no-brainer and they could handle it on their own.  They put their trust in their own understanding.  They were duped and had to pay a big price.  The lesson: consult God in EVERYTHING.  

Here is today’s Bible reading: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 13:2-3.

Joshua 7:24-26 (NIV)
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. [25] Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. [26] Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

They stoned Achan and his family and then burned them.  Why?  Because Achan disobeyed God and took some plunder.  Why such harsh consequences?  I believe the story is meant to illustrate the communal nature of our faith.  My sin impacts you and vice versa.  We are a family.  We must not treat sin casually, but recognize that it is rebellion against the God who created us and sustains us.  There are no little sins.  All sin separates us from God.  We terribly underestimate our sinfulness and God’s grace.  May we take sin as seriously as God does. 

Here is today’s Bible reading: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1.

Joshua 6:15-16 (NIV)
On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. [16] The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!

What if Joshua and the Israelites had only done this for six days?  They would have been right on the verge of the miracle and never experienced it.  Their faithful obedience and perseverance opened the door to God’s miraculous intervention.  If you are ready to give up, don’t quit.  You may be right on the verge of the miracle.  Faithfully obey and persevere.  

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28.

Luke 14:33 (NIV)
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

In our desperation to see people become followers of Jesus, we can fall into the trap of presenting to them something less than the Gospel of Jesus.  We accentuate the benefits without clearly communicating the cost.  We portray a Gospel of easy-believism.  Not Jesus.  He spends this portion of Scripture seemingly trying to talk people out of following Him.  He tells them to count the cost.  You see, the Gospel is a free gift that will cost us everything.  Don’t think that you can follow Jesus and hold on to your old life and old self. They must be crucified with Christ so that Christ and then live through you.  Have you given up everything to follow Jesus?  Is the Gospel you are sharing with others a message that clearly communicates the cost?

We finish the Pentateuch today! Great work.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26.

Luke 13:22-24 (NIV)  
    Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. [23] Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
    He said to them, [24] “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Ridiculously sobering. 

Luke 13:32-33 (NIV)  
    He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ [33] In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day–for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

I like this defiant, determined streak in Jesus.  I need more of that.

Joshua 1:1-2 (NIV)  
    After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: [2] “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them–to the Israelites.

As far as God was concerned, the defining quality of the life of Moses was that he was a servant of God.  I can think of no better title. 

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25.

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.

Wrestling with anxiety has highlighted just how important it is to be a part of biblical community.  In community we receive words of blessing and encouragement that lighten the load that threatens to weigh us down.  Words of kindness are powerful tools of healing.  Are you connected with a biblical community of faith?  Are you actively seeking to encourage those who are weighed down?

Psalm 78:72 (NIV)
And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them.

This is one of my favorite verses about what it looks like to be a Godly leader.

He is risen! 

Here is today’s Bible reading: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalm 78:56-64; Proverbs 12:24.

Luke 12:47-48 (NIV) 
    “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. [48] But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

As one who acknowledges that he has been given much, this is a very sobering passage of Scripture.  How easy it is to fall into the trap of self-centeredness and indulgence rather than self-sacrifice.  God has blessed me to be a blessing, not to hoard His blessing.  I have been given literally every conceivable advangtage in this life.  Am I using this for God’s glory rather than my own?  What will God say about this when He returns?

Here is today’s Bible reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27; Luke 12:8-34; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23.

Psalm 78:32 (NIV) 
    In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
        in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

Tomorrow’s Easter message is about Cleopas, a man who was a follower of Jesus but failed to believe initially in the promises of the Resurrection.  There is a little bit of Cleopas in all of us.  God promises.  God delivers.  He never fails.  Yet, we fail so often to trust.  Why is this so hard? 

Thank you, Jesus, for the cross.

Here is today’s Bible reading: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20.

Luke 11:45 (NIV)
One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

Jesus wasn’t nice.  He wasn’t politically correct.  He spoke the Truth.  Sadly, our culture sacrifices the Truth for being nice and politically correct.  We are much poorer for it.  The church needs to be a place where relationships run so deep that we can speak the truth in love to one another even when that truth hurts.  It isn’t Christlike to just relate to each other on the surface and play nice.  If we are to follow the example of Jesus, we will be confrontational.  That confrontation must be in the context of love.