Scripture Union Daily Guide 21 August 2024 For Today’s Devotional (Wednesday) Topic is Victory Accompanies Restoration
TOPIC: Victory Accompanies Restoration
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, I pray that you lead me into your truth as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
Before you continue Study Yesterday’s Devotional: Scripture Union Daily Guide 20 August 2024: Forgiven And Restored!
SCRIPTURE for Today: JOSHUA 8:18-35
18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand.
19 As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.
20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up into the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned back against their pursuers.
21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai.
22 Those in the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives.
23 But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it.
25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai.
26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed[a] all who lived in Ai.
27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.
28 So Joshua burned Ai[b] and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day.
29 He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.
30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel,
31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.
32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.
33 All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.
34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
* Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
You Can Connect to MFM Devotional for Today’s Lesson Here: MFM Devotional 21 August 2024: Pray Without Ceasing
Scripture Union Daily Guide for Today 21 August 2024 Outline
In our previous reading, we saw how Israel was defeated by a small country, Ai, because of sin. But in today’s portion, upon making peace with God, we see how God took control of Israel’s warfare with Ai. From vs.18-29, God became the Israel’s commanding officer with resultant overwhelming victory and total defeat of Ai.
God can never be defeated. When we fail God, let us come to Him in repentance for restoration. Once at peace with God and we allow Him to lead us, victory is assured.
In v.18, God instructed Joshua to stretch out his spear towards Ai for a resounding victory. We have no reason to retreat in our spiritual warfare against satanic forces.
It is good to thank God for exploits and favour that He bestows on us. Joshua dedicated the newly acquired country to the Lord who gave it to them.
Also, Joshua, the leader of God’s people inculcated in the people that obedience to God’s Word attracts His blessings while disobedience brings down His curse (vs.30-35).
Practice/Word Application
And so? Viable fellowship with God and total dependence on Him assures constant victory over the enemy.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Oh Lord, help me to remain in Christ Jesus and to trust you for victory.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 234- Jeremiah 46-48
You Can Connect to Rhapsody of Realities for Today’s Lesson Here: Rhapsody of Realities 21st August 2024: Reigning in the Midst of Adversities
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Daily Guide Devotional For Today 21st August 2024 (Wednesday) Anthem
WE HAVE A MESSAGE
1 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
And time now is speeding, the moments are few;
The Master is come, O make haste to receive Him,
For sinners He waits; He is calling for you!
Refrain
For you He is calling, for you He is calling,
Yes, Jesus is calling, is calling for you.
2 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
A message of hope to the weary of heart;
The love of my Savior, there’s nothing so precious,
The friendship of Jesus will never depart.
3 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
A message of love to the poor drunkard’s soul;
The love of my Jesus will snap all his fetters,
The blood of my Savior makes perfectly whole.
4 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
O do not reject Him and forfeit your soul!
The Savior invites you just now to receive Him,
And in His great love to be made fully whole.
Closing Prayer
Turn Psalm 139:23-24 into prayer.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 20:6
“Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.”
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 232- Habakkuk
You Can Connect to Open Heavens for Today’s Lesson Here: Open Heaven 21 August 2024: Handling Persecution
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN 21 AUGUST 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
SU STAFF AND LEADERS.
You did not choose, but I chose you and appointed you. John 15:16
THANK GOD FOR:
‣ Willing men and women that he has chosen and called to serve in the SU.
PRAY FOR:
‣ More commitment for all leaders at all levels- Council, Regional, Area, Zonal and Group Committee members to lead his people.
‣ The travelling staff; HODs, Regional Coordinators, Travelling Secretaries and Missionaries for divine enablement; their families and protection in all their journeys.
‣ God to raise more dedicated workers to cope with the expanding ministry.
Click to Read the Previous Scripture Union Daily Guide Devotional
