Monday, 3/23/2015

“A great man is always willing to be little.”~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

JOSHUA 9, 10

The Gibeonites shrewdly gain favor from Joshua

22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

LUKE 3

Jesus is baptized and begins his ministry...

21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

JOURNAL

It is interesting to me that Jesus' ministry does not start until his is 30 years old.  The last time we saw him he was 12 and was soaking in all the religious teaching.  So 18 years later he begins and it begins with being baptized...not that he needed it but because he loved us and lived life as we lived it.  

Jesus defaults to God constantly...he is always going to pray, moving away from crowds and "big" events in order to consult with his Father.  Jesus never seems to independently do anything.  

This is such a lesson for me.  I do not do this...often I make decisions, act and take action without ever consulting with God.  No wonder I consistently have regrets and doubts.  

6Who, being in very nature^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature^b of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)