March 29, 2021
Promise Keepers and Loving Others
After the land had been divided up between the tribes of Israel, Joshua allocated cities to the tribe of Levi. Joshua 21 gives an overview of the regions where the cities came from, including a detailed listing of the cities themselves. The Lord had fulfilled His promises to settle His people in a new land (v43) and the Lord gave the nation rest (v.44).
Joshua 22 is the story about the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh returning to the land they chose to live in, on the eastern side of the Jordan.
In Numbers 32, these tribes had asked Moses if they could settle inland on the eastern side of the river, even though this was outside of the Promised Land. Moses agreed to this, provided the men still go with Israel across the Jordan and help all the other tribes conquer the land.
Joshua kept the promise Moses had made, and these tribes were permitted to return.
“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed.; all came to pass.” - Joshua 21:45
In His sermon on the plain, Jesus taught the crowds what God’s true expectations were for His people. Instead of hating their enemies, the people were to love them. Before judging another person, they were to first examine their own lives.
The kingdom of God is not be filled with those who are religious. It is filled with those who are loving, merciful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving.
Jesus finished by reminding them how important it was not only to hear the Word of God but to actually put it into practice.
“As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” - Luke 6:31
Make It Personal
- God is faithful and keeps His word. Through our faith in Christ, He has promised that we are saved from our sin, and He will never hold our past against us. If you are struggling to let go of a past mistake, take time today to remember that through Christ, you have the promise of forgiveness.
- Jesus emphasized putting his teaching into practice. What could you do today that would show the kindness and compassion of Christ to another person?