How Joshua Could Become Joshua?

 Please click this link for the video version of today's blog : 

   https://youtu.be/vW-TkT8nAKw?si=5HueZpe4cKkGRGK1

 Key passages: 

      Moses said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?"                                                                        Exodus 32: 21

      The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.        Exodus 33: 11

      

The topic I received today from Jesus is: How Joshua Could Become Joshua?

      After all the training, caring, loving and experiencing and yet Aaron and the Israelites could do that to God and Moses! And so did Judas to Jesus and so did many, many more people! 

       

       I feel how deeply God was hurt, expressed through his painful word, "How can you do that to me?"

If   Aaron did that, all those Israelites did that. Judas did that, so as many people in the history of mankind and history of the Church did that!

      Do you think you would be an exception? Do you think that I could be an exception? 

      We sin, and yet lots of time we don't even know to confess and repent. Lots of time we think that it is other people's fault or even God's fault!

      Exodus 32 gives us a picture of how sinful human being can be. Then in Exodus 33 we see hope. We see the rise of a new leader, Moses' successor.

      Many people have been wondering how Joshua could become such a powerful leader to do the thing which even Moses could not do by leading the Israelites into the Promise Land. You can find the answer today in this chapter: 

      1.  Joshua followed his mentor Moses as closely as he could, especially when Moses was meeting with God in the tent. 

      2. He learned from Moses to stay as long as he could in the tent of meeting where God stayed. Joshua was the only one did not leave the tent after Moses returned to the camp. It is somewhat like your church's worship finished, everybody left and you still sit on a chair enjoying God's presence and waiting for God to speak to you.

      Many Christians cannot grow up to be faithful, gifted and fruitful disciples of Christ because:

      1. They do not know how to locate their mentor(s) which God prepares for them. And even when they have a mentor or mentors, they are not willing to follow them well like Joshua did.

      2. They do not want to spend more time with God daily; instead they spend time with other "gods" daily leading them to fruitless lives.

      Dear Lord Jesus,                                                                                                                                          Help us not to step in those traps to sin, to be angry at you and other people. Lead us to enjoy having more time with you daily and to be able to know who are those leaders you prepare for us to follow so that we can grow up to be faithful, gifted and fruitful disciples of you.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Reflect on these questions:     

1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

    2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus, to be holy - that is to do what Jesus wants you to do and not to do what Jesus wants you not to do?

    

    Family Corner:

   Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

    

    Time with Abba (Psalm 24:1-6, Exodus 32:1-33:23; Matthew 26:69-27:14; Proverbs 8:33-36)

    Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.    

   For the Chinese version of this daily blog and video, please click this link (中文版請按此連結):

    https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningchinese.blogspot.com

     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link:http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     If you would like to follow my "Subject shifting Devotion Method" from the "Time with Abba, Praising Singing", you are welcome to follow the direction below and then go back to the top of this blog to read today's key passage and my listening and sharing:

        Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

      2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

     Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise the Lord

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method) 

https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

 My first blog "Devotion on Fire"  was written in English only  (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html

My second blog "Discipler 123"  was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html

and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024): 

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html