Category: CONNECT THE TESTAMENTS

  • DON’T FOCUS ON OVERCOMING

    Connect The TestamentsJudges 2:11-3:31; Philippians 1:12-18; Psalm 63-64 When I go through difficult circumstances, I want the end. I’m so focused on escape and overcoming that I barely think about what God might be teaching me through that experience. And I’m certainly not thinking about how He might be using me to witness to others.…

  • WHO WILL FIGHT FOR US?

    Connect The TestamentsJudges 1:1-2:10; Philippians 1:1-11; Psalm 61:1-62:12 “Who will go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” (Judg 1:1). I’ve felt this way before—wondering who will be my advocate in my time of need. It’s ironic that we are surrounded by people, and we have constant access to communication, and…

  • THEY’RE FUTILE; IT ISN’T

    Connect The TestamentsJoshua 22:10-24:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11-14; Psalm 60:1-12 If you knew it was time to die, to say goodbye for good, what would you say? How would your final hoorah sound? In an episode of Northern Exposure, Dr. Joel Fleischman is convinced that he is dying. Joel, who is usually conservative, begins risking everything:…

  • EXAMINE THYSELF

    Connect The TestamentsJoshua 21:1-22:9; 2 Corinthians 13:1-10; Psalm 59:1-17 Before advising others on how they should act, self-examination is always necessary. When the Corinthians questioned the authenticity of Paul and his colleagues’ ministry (which is ironic, since he had planted their church), Paul says to them: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the…

  • THE SUBTLE SINNER

    Connect The TestamentJoshua 19:10-20:9; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 57:1-58:11 Some sins slip through the cracks—the ones that emerge in hushed tones between like-minded Christians. Sometimes these sins seem respectable because they occur out of supposed concerns for the Church or others. But they can leave deep gashes in the life of a community because they…

  • WALKING IN CIRCLES

    Connect The TestamentsJoshua 18:1-19:9; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 56:1-13 I often wish things were more obvious. I ask God to help me understanding His timing so that I can easily act. I ask for everything to happen at the right moments. I ask Him to give me such clear directions that I can’t fail in…

  • BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND

    Connect The TestamentsJoshua 14:1-15:63; 2 Corinthians 11:16-23; Psalm 54:1-7 Faith is not just about being faithful; it’s also about trusting in God’s faithfulness. For years God dealt with the confused and waning nature of His people while they were in the wilderness. They wondered, “Will God actually do what Moses has told us?” They had…

  • TONGUES, FLAMES, AND OTHER THINGS THAT DEVOUR

    Connect The TestamentsJoshua 12:1-13:32; 2 Corinthians 11:7-15; Psalm 52:1-53:6 I’d like to skip over the description of the “mighty man” in Psa 52. Of all of his destructive influences, the mighty man is most judged for his use of words. The psalmist’s words burn because I’ve set more than a few forests ablaze with careless…

  • THE ART OF CONFESSION

    Connect The TestamentsJoshua 10:16-11:23; 2 Corinthians 11:1-6; Psalm 51:1-19 Confession is a lost art. Most Christian communities today have little outlet for doing so, and the systems for confessing that we do have are often tainted by a lack of honesty and trust. This isn’t helped by the fact that none of us like to…

  • JUDGING GIFTS

    Connect The TestamentJoshua 9:1-10:15; 2 Corinthians 10:9-18; Psalm 50 Comparing our gifts to those of the person sitting in the next cubicle or pew is dangerous work. Judging ourselves by this standard denigrates or inflates the gifts we’ve been given, leading to either ungratefulness or pride. Because the assessment method is faulty, we will always…