365 Reflections

The book of Romans maps out the process of change for the Christian's life: Romans 8:13 (ESV) For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but i f by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. What does that look like? The book of Joshua draws an illustration of Spiritually empowered sanctification in the unclaimed areas of the Promised land following Joshua's efforts to lead the nation toward total occupancy. In his farewell speech, he admonishes the people to continue fighting the last vestiges of the nations surrounding them. These nations pose a threat to Israel's fidelity and longevity. So Joshua extols further eradication of their existence. This is a picture of our sanctification. Jesus saves us, and then we partner with the Holy Spirit in working out that salvation in fear and trembling (see Philippians 2:12-13). Joshua 23:4–8 (ESV) Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, a...

Jesus would rather have no church in a community than a dead church. That is what is made clear in the first three chapters of Revelation. With every encouragement, challenge or correction given to the 7 churches in Asia Minor Jesus promises to remove the lamp stands of those churches that do not heed His word and walk in His ways. But before there were churches in Asia Minor, there were seven lamps in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. Numbers 8:1–4 (ESV) Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” 3 And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand. The holy place of the tabernacle was to remain continually lit. W...

When Jacob passes away a very touching moment is recorded between him and Joseph. Some notable things do not happen as well. Genesis 50:1–3 (ESV) Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. Genesis 50:10 (ESV) When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. The first 14 verses of Genesis 50 record a very long process of mourning and burial for Jacob. Egypt mourns 70 days! Pharaoh commissions Joseph to carry him to Canaan for burial and there Joseph mourns another seven days. The inhabitants see the mourning and say something particular:  Genesis 50:11 (ESV)  Whe...