THE LORD SPOKE (March 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Joshua 3-5

“You have never been this way before.” (Josh. 3:4)

It’s always a good time to trust the Lord and to seek His direction. But when you’re plowing new ground, you don’t want to fail in this regard. How comforting must have been the next words that Joshua heard: “tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Josh. 3:5).

Not only that... Joshua was promised that the Lord would be with him just as He had been with Moses (Josh. 3:7). That’s quite a remarkable promise when you consider everything the Bible tells us about Moses’ walk with God. It’s probably safe to say that Moses’ relationship to the Lord was as close as any other man’s has ever been. Abraham was a “friend of God” and David was a “man after God’s own heart”. But Moses was “faithful in all God’s house” (Heb. 3:2) and no prophet like him ever arose until Jesus (see Deut. 18:15 and 34:10 with Heb. 3:1-6).

So Joshua was commissioned and “that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel” (Josh. 4:14). It was still a new path that he was following but he was indeed following. Once they crossed the Jordan River many things changed. There was no more manna (Josh. 5:12) and we hear nothing more of the cloudy pillar or the fire by night that led them through the wilderness. But there was plenty of uncertainty on this side too and it required of Joshua a steady trust. The Ark of the Covenant was still a factor for awhile but of increasing importance was the systematic, faithful, dependent following of God’s written Word (Josh. 1:8-9).

And that’s the way it still is for us today. We have the same God and the same assurance of His direction. We now have the completed canon of Scripture and we have the indwelling Spirit to guide us into all truth. So, really, we’re much better off than Joshua was. Are you ready to assault the Enemy’s strongholds today? Do so in the strength of the Lord.

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,
All I have to do is follow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,
All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today is mine all the way,
And all that I need for tomorrow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,
All I have to do is follow.


New Testament: John 18

All four gospels tell the story of Peter’s three denials but only John was actually an eye witness. Because he “was known to the High Priest” (vs. 15), he was able to get in to the courtyard unnoticed. In fact, it was he who slipped back to the entrance and got Peter in too. But of the twelve, only those two were there. Though it was supposed to be spring already, they were having a cold winter (vs. 18) and there was a fire in the courtyard. People were warming themselves around it when Peter was recognized.

He’d been on an emotional roller-coaster for several days previously. All week long there had been high and low moments. It started with coming up from the Jordan River to Bethany and seeing Lazarus brought back to life. He’d seen Jesus do it three times before but it’s just not something you ever get used to! Then, on the way into Jerusalem, people had triumphantly acclaimed Jesus as King. Those cheering crowds were hard to forget - especially tonight with what’s going on here. Next, Jesus had kicked out the money-changers and salesmen at the Temple a second time. And now the authorities were really mad and out to get Him.

Jesus had snatched several moments throughout the week to teach them but much of it had been very hard to understand - and harder yet to accept. Watching Him down on His knees with a towel wrapped around Him to wash their feet was almost too much to take. Peter didn’t want to have anything to do with it at first. Finding out that one of their band of brothers was a traitor had pushed him over the edge and he’d attempted murder.

Now he could see his Master, bruised and bone-weary, being badgered by a bunch of bigots. Look at him - that Caiaphas! As crooked as they come, yet so self-righteous in leading this sham of a “trial”. With a flip of his finger he orders an “official” to slap Jesus in the face.

Why did those people keep questioning him? Couldn’t they just leave him alone? For the rest of his life, Peter hated mornings and stayed away from barnyards. Those lousy roosters! For the moment, the darkness only got darker. At the lowest moment of all, God Himself shut out all the lights and Peter could not even see his Friend hanging there on the cross.

But then the Light returned. The warmth and glory was inextinguishable. He arose triumphant from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign. Hallelujah!