02-28-2019, 04:40 PM
THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Thursday, February 28, 2019
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
READ: Joshua 14:6-14
6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.
7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’
10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.
12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
MEMORISE:
The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich (Proverbs 13:4).
EXPOSITION
The word, challenge, in this context, means something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination to do, or accomplish. It is any demanding task that calls for special effort or dedication. It is a new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skill. To take up the challenge is to respond to a challenge and to do what the challenge asks. A lazy person or someone who wants easy things every moment will never take up challenge. The rule of the game is, your readiness to take up the challenge from the starting point before entering into the next level of your success life.
Martins Luther King, Jr. said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” A Bible example of one who took up challenge is Caleb. Out of the twelve spies that Moses sent to explore the Promised Land, it was this man and his partner, Joshua, who were ever ready to take up the challenge to enter the land, despite the terrifying appearance of the land. On getting to the land, Caleb took up the challenge in another dimension when Joshua was distributing the land to them. He said, Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said (Jos. 14:12).
Give me this mountain is the language of people who are ready to take up challenge. These kinds of people do not like to stay at the valley. They do not like to run away from problem and they learn to view problems as challenges. David took up the challenge by facing the giant that everybody was running away from (1 Sam. 17:32). Esther took up the challenge and went to the king, which was against the law (Esth. 4:15-16). There is one thing common with the people who love to take up challenges. They all become successful in life. Get ready now to take up the challenge before you. You too will be successful in all your endeavours.
PRAYER POINTS
1. I stand against the spirit of laziness of hand, mind and spirit, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, help and give me courage not to run away from any challenge I need to respond to in life.
3. Lord, strengthen our spiritual leaders to take up the challenge not to abdicate their responsibilities.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Numbers 3:20 – 4:32; Mark 6:14 – 6:35
Thursday, February 28, 2019
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
READ: Joshua 14:6-14
6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.
7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’
10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.
12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
MEMORISE:
The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich (Proverbs 13:4).
EXPOSITION
The word, challenge, in this context, means something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination to do, or accomplish. It is any demanding task that calls for special effort or dedication. It is a new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skill. To take up the challenge is to respond to a challenge and to do what the challenge asks. A lazy person or someone who wants easy things every moment will never take up challenge. The rule of the game is, your readiness to take up the challenge from the starting point before entering into the next level of your success life.
Martins Luther King, Jr. said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” A Bible example of one who took up challenge is Caleb. Out of the twelve spies that Moses sent to explore the Promised Land, it was this man and his partner, Joshua, who were ever ready to take up the challenge to enter the land, despite the terrifying appearance of the land. On getting to the land, Caleb took up the challenge in another dimension when Joshua was distributing the land to them. He said, Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said (Jos. 14:12).
Give me this mountain is the language of people who are ready to take up challenge. These kinds of people do not like to stay at the valley. They do not like to run away from problem and they learn to view problems as challenges. David took up the challenge by facing the giant that everybody was running away from (1 Sam. 17:32). Esther took up the challenge and went to the king, which was against the law (Esth. 4:15-16). There is one thing common with the people who love to take up challenges. They all become successful in life. Get ready now to take up the challenge before you. You too will be successful in all your endeavours.
PRAYER POINTS
1. I stand against the spirit of laziness of hand, mind and spirit, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, help and give me courage not to run away from any challenge I need to respond to in life.
3. Lord, strengthen our spiritual leaders to take up the challenge not to abdicate their responsibilities.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Numbers 3:20 – 4:32; Mark 6:14 – 6:35