Joshua 3, Psalm 137, Philippians 2

Joshua told the people what they should do and what God would do. The people obeyed exactly, and watched God do what He promised. The Bible is full of God's promises and we can trust Him. The key is our obedience.

The cry from captivity is a mournful one. Sin caused the captivity. The contrast between Joshua 3 and Psalm 137 is stark and illustrates the difference between blessings from obedience and consequences of sin.

The whole point of obedience is to become like Christ, humble and obedient to death and then exalted. Paul encourages the Philippians to be obedient, reminds them of his own obedience, commends Timothy and Epaphroditus for their obedience, and chides the Philippians a bit for what they lacked toward Paul. The point is not that we'll be exalted now or even as Christ later, but we will be heirs with Christ later. It is all for Christ.

Our obedience now brings - attracts - others to Him. If we suffer for the cause now, it's not the same as suffering the consequences of sin. We need to recognize the difference. Sometimes we get so caught up in the experience of suffering that we fail to see why we are suffering. There is suffering because of our faith, suffering as a result of sin, and suffering that is designed to refine us. (Of course, all suffering refines us, but some is only for that purpose.)

Paul was persecuted for his faith, and so were Timothy and Epaphroditus. The Philippian Christians faced the very real possibility that they would be, too. This is the suffering to which he refers. But even when going through something so terrible, Paul and others of his day watched God do what He promised. God won all kinds of victories for them, even though they ultimately died for Him. Christ died, too - more accurately, first. But that didn't mean God forgot His promises.

We are promised a place at the table in heaven. God always keeps His promises.

Joshua 2, Psalm 136, Philippians 1

We can live in the state of promises, but only for so long. There comes a time when we have to go do something - whatever God instructs. In this case, the spies went into Jericho. For her part, Rahab had to do something also. But as individuals obeyed, God worked and protected them all. Rahab was certainly an unlikely candidate, so we need to learn from her example not to judge others.

His mercy does endure forever. It is the Lord who created the earth and us and who rescues us from our enemies. (Read: spiritual enemies, those forces who would cause us doubt, worry, fear, and ultimately stop us from following God.) Those enemies are defeated by the cross and we need to stand strong because His mercy endures forever!

Paul's enemies thought that by arresting him they'd stop the spread of his message. How wrong they were! Paul knew that physical affliction, even death, was not defeat, but actual victory. He encourages the Philippians to remember this when they suffer. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21) The whole purpose of prolonging Paul's life was to produce more fruit of the gospel and for the benefit of others, not Paul.

Does my life benefit others? Am I willing to give it up to benefit others as the spies were? Can I really say with Paul that it doesn't matter to me whether I live or die, only that God's will is done? These are heavy questions, but really are the bottom line.

So as long as I live, I better be doing what I know God has called me to do.