Verse of the Day 2/26

Joshua 3:5  Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."  English Standard Version (ESV)

I read today's verse in a devotional I read the other day.  Joshua, one of Israel's greatest leaders called for the people to sanctify themselves, to set themselves aside, to dedicate themselves to God's purposes.  This took place before they miraculously crossed the Jordan river.  In calling others to sanctify themselves he had to do this first.  When you read through the Bible you see example after example of people who dedicated themselves to the Lord's work, to follow Him in obedience.  Miraculous things followed.

Sometimes we dedicate our lives to Christ at a rally or a retreat and other times it is after a mountaintop experience in our lives.  The birth of a child, a miraculous healing,or sometimes it is His "still small voice" that speaks to us through a passage when we've taken the time to read His Word.  Many will keep a diary or journal following these times.  All too often the busyness of life and all of its demands, attractions and trials can give us the opportunity to drift away.  It's times like these , when we realize how far we've drifted, that should lead us to go back to those diaries and journals and look back and see what the Lord has done.  Perhaps we can rededicate ourselves and pick up that journal or a new one and write new pages and chapters of our lives.

In his devotional, Mark Batterson writes of Jonathan Edwards and his dedication and how it impacted his family, church and even our nation.  "Edwards was the author of dozens of volumes, both theological and inspirational. His biography of David Brainerd has inspired countless missionaries to go all in with God. And it was Jonathan Edwards who sparked America's First Great Awakening with his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." But his greatest legacy may be his progeny, which include more than 300 ministers and missionaries, 120 university professors, 60 authors, 30 judges, 14 college presidents, 3 members of Congress, and 1 vice president."    Edwards left quite a legacy.  He was another leader who "consecrated" himself to God.  Known most often for his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" message, he actually wrote a lot about love, God's love.  One of his books "Charity and it's Fruit" is all about 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter.    Most of us want to leave a legacy.  The one that will impact generations the most will be a legacy that comes out of dedicating oneself to following Jesus and His Word.    I want to leave a legacy  How will they remember me?  Did I choose to love?  Did I point to You enough  To make a mark on things  I want to leave an offering  A child of mercy and grace  Who blessed Your name unapologetically  And leave that kind of legacy                      Nicole Nordeman  

"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." 

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Joshua 3English Standard Version (ESV)

Israel Crosses the Jordan

3 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. ² At the end of three days the officers went through the camp ³ and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.⁴ Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits^[a]in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before." ⁵ Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." ⁶ And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

⁷ The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.