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Joshua 22; Isaiah 15 to 16; 2 Thessalonians 1

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

What a source of comfort for saints passing through this vale of tears, to know that our High Priest has first-hand experience of all the troubles and trials that can afflict His people here on earth. The Lord Jesus knows what it is to suffer rejection, misunderstanding, hatred, severe pain, and distress. He even knows the cost of fulfilling the will of God for His life, even unto death. Dear suffering saint, the Lord Jesus knows exactly how you feel, and therefore can bring meaningful comfort to your troubled aching heart. —Willie H. Burnett

Touched with a sympathy within, He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations mean, for He has felt the same. —I. Watts

Joshua 20 to 21; Isaiah 14; 1 Thessalonians 5

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:5 NKJV

Our eight-year-old grandson had read Psalm 100 at our local church prayer meeting. When he finished, my husband asked, “Why is the Lord good?” to which his six-year-old brother replied, “Because He rescued us”. How wonderful to know that Jesus has rescued us by enduring the judgement due to us for our sins. How great to know that He can save us from the penalty and power of our sin. Has He rescued you today? —Janet Fleming

He left the glory of heaven, and came to a world of sin.
He died on the cross to save me; to rescue my soul from hell.
How can I ever thank Him, for taking my judgement on Him?
I’ll go to a world that is dying His love and salvation to tell.
—Janet Fleming

Joshua 18 to 19; Isaiah 13; 1 Thessalonians 4

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV

You don’t want a trouble-free life. You may think you do, but you don’t. A trouble-free life is a weak and anaemic thing. What we want is a tried faith. Trial produces a robust and mature faith. But in addition, a tried faith gathers to itself riches that are “more precious than gold that perishes”. Such riches cannot be obtained any other way. —Brian Gunning

For by and by, the mist will lift, and plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, though dark to me, He made not one mistake.
—A. M. Overton

Joshua 16 to 17; Isaiah 11 to 12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 to 3:13

I waited patiently for the Lord… mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalm 40:1; 69:3
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Anticipating His Father’s deliverance, our Redeemer endured mankind’s animosity while satisfying the wrath of God and fulfilling every promise regarding Himself. Waiting upon Him is the key to a life of victory for us too, and Scripture details the fruits of our waiting: salvation, refuge, strength, goodness, hope, righteousness, joy, and mercy. Today, what fruit does our Lord enjoy while He awaits His Bride? Until we hear the shout, may it be the fruit of our lips in continual praise to our Lord! —David J. Reed

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song! —Fanny Crosby

Joshua 14 to 15; Isaiah 10:5-34; 1 Thessalonians 1 to 2:12

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 NKJV

There are usually marks of ethnicity by which we can tell the nationality of a person; it may be the way they dress, their accent, or even their behaviour. All provide clues. For us as believers, our behaviour, values and our conversation should reveal our citizenship. Philippians 4 provides a number of characteristics of a citizen of heaven. We should be joyful, gentle, anxious for nothing, obedient to the Word, and content with what we have. It is to have the same characteristics that the Lord Jesus displayed while He was here on earth. —Gary McBride

Be like Jesus, this is my song, in the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus all day long! I would be like Jesus. —J. Rowe

Joshua 13; Isaiah 9:8 to 10:4; Luke 24:36-53

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke 23:47

The sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ is explicitly stated throughout the Word of God (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). His life spanned over three decades, but no one could find fault in Him. It was crucial He be sinless because “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), and “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:20). This is how the Lord could say, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay [my life] down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18). And because His sacrifice was complete we can come and worship Him today with boldness. —Luke Urban

The Holy One who knew no sin, God made Him sin for us;
The Saviour died our souls to win, upon the shameful cross.
—H. K. Burlingham

Joshua 11 to 12; Isaiah 8:5 to 9:7; Luke 24:13-35

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:8-9 NKJV

You may be the longing soul of this verse, hungering for something that truly satisfies; thirsting for living water that will truly quench your soul. You have experienced the dryness of the world’s appeal and the barrenness of selfish-desire. Are you finished with wandering? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the living water—Jesus Christ? “He satisfies the longing soul”. —Peter Ramsay

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,
And nothing satisfying there I found;
But to the blessed cross of Christ, one day I came,
Where springs of living water did abound. —J. W. Peterson

 

Joshua 10; Isaiah 7 to 8:4; Luke 23:47 to 24:12

Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

In her Christmas message televised in 2000 throughout the Commonwealth, the Queen spoke of her strong Christian faith saying “The teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times
from Christ’s words and example”. How humbling to note that here was a monarch that gave her word as to how she would live her life, recognised that she was accountable to God and derived great comfort from God’s Word and Christ’s example. May we endeavour to emulate similar convictions in our hearts. —Brian Powlesland

When I stand before the throne, dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see Thee as Thou art, love Thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know, not till then, how much I owe.—R. McCheyne

Joshua 9; Isaiah 6; Luke 23:13-46

The people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord”. Numbers 20:3 NKJV

I have often been discontented with what God has allowed in my life. Deep down I was not happy with my Father’s decisions. I have learned many wonderful lessons as I walked those dark lonely roads, seeing clearly what I would have missed had He not chosen my path. We will not have real peace until we accept His will in our lives. —Mary Robins

All the way my Saviour leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know what-e’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
—Fanny Crosby

Joshua 8; Isaiah 5; Luke 22:54 to 23:12

Set up signposts, make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back…turn back. Jeremiah 31:21 NKJV

What signposts and landmarks have we ignored, causing us to tread ways other than our Lord’s? Here are some markers we shouldn’t miss. We should appreciate God’s goodness better every day (Ps. 31:19). We should commence and continue our day with full trust in the Lord (Ps. 115:13). We should strive to be happy
people (Prov. 28:14). We should have a strong confidence in God (Prov. 14:26). The essential element in each of these verses is the fear of the Lord. May we reverence Him and be found considering well the highway we are travelling. —Doug Lewis

A special joy is in all love, for objects we revere;
Thus joy in God will always be proportioned to our fear. —F. W. Faber