Day 122, 31st December: Joshua, John and Psalms

Be Radical
By Robin Killick

Today’s readings
Joshua 21:20-22:34
John 3:1-21
Psalms 55:1-11

How’s your year been? What were your highlights? Looking back, do you feel amazed, pleased, satisfied, disappointed, ashamed, or are there elements of each? How is your relationship with God? Today’s passages are an absolutely fantastic way to end 2012.

They contain amazing truths and challenges. I will focus on one of each. One amazing truth is that God Loves You – John3:16 says it clearly. He values you so much that he sent Jesus so that the world (which definitely includes you) could be saved. Looking back, it doesn’t matter about what you’ve done in the past, whether you’ve screwed up badly or grown dramatically in your faith.

We’re given a choice about Jesus – believe, or don’t believe. Having made that choice however, we need to be born again. Don’t misunderstand this as Nicodemus did – it’s spiritual, not physical. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that his affect on our lives is clear for all to see. As I look outside, snow is swirling all around. The effect of the wind is obvious. Is the work of the Holy Spirit obvious in your life?

The New Year brings a new opportunity to answer that question. Having been ‘born again,’ the challenge for all Christians is to live it out, which comes across clearly in Joshua. It seems a long time ago since Numbers 32, but two of the tribes of Israel had asked to be given land on the east side of the Jordan River, not the west with the rest of the nation. Moses granted this request if the men promised to help until the rest of the Promised Land was won. Now their task is completed – God is giving them their Promised Land, and peace (verses 1-4). God always keeps his promises (Joshua 21: 43-45). They did a great job! Joshua blesses them, but also issues a challenge – “keep it up! Love God, keep his commandments, commit to him and serve him with all your heart and soul.” (verse 5)

As I write, England are 1-0 up in the Ashes cricket series against Australia. Great stuff, but the challenge is to keep it up. The same can be applied to us. What might Joshua’s challenge look like in practice? Make some New Years Resolutions – it would be a great opportunity to apply it in your life. Pray, think carefully, and be radical!

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Today’s picture was taken by…
Mummy Snuggs. Thank you and Happy New Years Eve!

If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.

The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!