Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.

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Read

Joshua 8:30-35 (NRSV)

Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, “an altar of unhewn stones, on which no iron tool has been used”; and they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed offerings of well-being. And there, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. All Israel, alien as well as citizen, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark in front of the levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, blessings and curses, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.

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Reflect

Have you ever moved to a new town? In the many times I have moved, I first feel like a stranger in a strange land. I am presented with new customs, dialects and phrases only found in this particular region, along with a different pace of life. It takes time to adjust to all of these. Sooner or later, though, I find my own rhythm in my new home.

In every place I have lived, there is always a group of individuals who comment on how “alien” they feel. They have never felt like a part of the community no matter how long they have been there. My personal observation is that they make a CHOICE not to be a part of their new community, many by setting themselves apart because they are not from there.

Accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior makes us family, community. It doesn’t matter what color our skin is, what our gender is, or how much money we have in the bank. We are ALL brothers and sisters. The only thing that can keep a person separated from this community is the choice not to accept Christ. How will you help someone to join the community today? Many blessings.

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Pray

Lord, help us to remember that when we accept you as our Lord and Savior that we are grafted into your family. It doesn’t matter where we come from or who we were. We are now all brothers and sisters, your sons and daughters. Help us make the choice to be a family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go with God.