But He led forth His own people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies. So, He brought them to His holy land, to this hill country which His right hand had gained. Psalm 78:52-54
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
Today is week four of a five-week devotional series entitled, “Marriage, Family, and Beyond.” We have just recently celebrated Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is just around the corner. So, it seems fitting to provide such a series as this. This series is for people building toward marriage, married couples, and those whose marriages didn’t work out. It is for those who hope to have children, have children, and those without children (or raised children) who seek to bless the children in the sphere of their lives. It is for all of us who want to be better equipped to bless the next generation by being people of faith who pass their faith forward. It is for all of us who want to be kingdom people with great relationships in all areas of life including the church, the family, the neighborhood, the workplace, and the world (marketplace).
We hope the “Marriage, Family, and Beyond” devotional series will encourage you, challenge you, and guide you as you seek to walk with God in these all-important areas of life. The series is a compilation of separate weeks of Devotional material. They were selected and put together because they all contribute very nicely to this emphasis. This series has five weeks of Devotional material with two weeks having six Devotionals and three having five.
Week One: Marriage for a Lifetime. Week Two: Raising Kids to Live Fully. Week Three: Passing Our Faith to the Next Generation. Week Four: God’s Faith Filled People. Week Five: The Stewardship of Relationships. We begin Week Four, God’s Faith Filled People, with the following:
The Scriptures designate the Jewish people as God’s chosen people and the land of Canaan as the promised land. In our country it was popular years ago to view the United States of America as a modern “chosen people” and “promised land.” “America the Beautiful” says, “America, America, God shed His grace on Thee.” While not as common a view these days in terms of Divine exaltation, it is still popular to think of our nation with a rather exalted image when it comes to power, privilege, and provision. It’s not hard to see how parallels between the origins of Israel and America were made and why borrowing the “chosen people” and “promised land” designations came about.
In this week’s Devotional we turn to the account of God’s chosen people entering the promised land. There is much to learn from God’s relocation project of His people in the book of Joshua. The passage above speaks of God’s people getting out of Egypt and into the promised land, but it is said in terms that show that what happened was absolutely and totally a work of God. How to live by faith individually and collectively as God’s people today so that what happens going forward is absolutely and totally a work of God is our focus this week.
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, I want to discover the promises you have for your people today and trust you for them fully. Help me to understand and give myself to all you have in store for us as your people today. I pray that the work that you alone can do will be done in me and your people like never before. Your will be done for your honor and glory. Amen!
