Good morning,
Welcome to 2024. A new year and possibly a new start. This would be a good time to reflect on what God has done during the past year. When we think about God’s all knowing, ever-present, all-powerful character, we have a place to begin our planning for this year. Then we need to ask ourselves, “What can we do to grow closer to God this year?” How can we glorify God more this year? What is our plan to get these things done? What goals have we set for this year?
Joshua is preparing to go into the promised land. God spoke to Joshua. Joshua listened to God’s plan. He made preparations to go. Then executed the plan.
We will study parts of Joshua 1-3 and see how Joshua accomplished this task.
This should be what we do this year.
Preparing for 2024
Joshua 1-3
Joshua speaks to the people (3:9-13)
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God.10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
Waters part, people cross over Jordan on dry ground (3:14-17)
And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
CONCLUSION
Go
Be of good courage
Obey God’s word
Prepare
Set ourselves apart for God’s use
Obey God’s leading
Execute, execute, execute God’s plan
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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