DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY APRIL 5:
WORD OF WISDOM
A dog's life wouldn't be too bad . all a dog has to worry about is the
toilet seat falling on it's head.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Without the Betrayal
Jesus said to Judas, "Friend, do what you came for."
(Matthew 26:50, AMP)
When Judas betrayed and tried to stop Jesus, it seemed like a bad
break. But Jesus had known that Judas was going to betray Him, and He hadn't
tried to stop him. Jesus understood that betrayal was a part of His destiny.
Had Judas not betrayed Him, there wouldn't have been a crucifixion, and
without the cross there wouldn't have been a resurrection, and without a
resurrection we wouldn't have redemption. The man who sold Jesus out for
thirty pieces of silver was critical to His destiny.
What am I saying? Don't complain about that person who betrayed you. If they
walked away, they didn't set you back; they set you up. If that had not
happened, you wouldn't get to where you're supposed to be. If they tried to
push you down and lied about you, it may not have been fair, but nothing
happens by accident. If God allowed it, He knows how to use it for your
good.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for Your promise that You can take the things that are
meant to harm me and use them for my good. I receive this word and choose to
remain at rest and not complain. It may not feel good, but I declare that it
is all good. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Rahab
Joshua 2 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Spies in Jericho
2 Joshua son of Nun and all the people were camped at Acacia.[a] Joshua sent
out two spies. No one knew that Joshua sent out these men. Joshua said to
them, "Go and look at the land, especially the city of Jericho."
So the men went to the city of Jericho and stayed at the house of a
prostitute named Rahab.
2 But someone told the king of Jericho, "Last night some men from Israel
came to look for weaknesses in our country."
3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Do not hide the men
who came and stayed in your house. Bring them out. They have come to spy on
our country."
4 Rahab had hidden the two men, but she said, "They did come here, but I
didn't know where they came from. 5 In the evening, when it was time to
close the city gate, the men left. I don't know where they went. But if you
go quickly, maybe you can catch them." 6 (Rahab said this, but really she
had taken the men up to the roof and had hidden them in the flax[b] that she
had piled up there.)
7 So the king's men went out of the city, and the people closed the city
gates. The king's men went to look for the two men from Israel. They went to
the Jordan River and looked at all the places where people cross the river.
8 The two men were ready to sleep for the night, but Rahab went to the roof
to talk to them. 9 She said, "I know that the Lord has given this land to
your people. You frighten us. Everyone living in this country is afraid of
you. 10 We are afraid because we have heard about the ways that the Lord
helped you. We heard that he dried up the Red Sea when you came out of
Egypt. We also heard what you did to the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og. We
heard how you destroyed those kings living east of the Jordan River. 11 When
we heard about this, we were very afraid. And now, not one of our men is
brave enough to fight you, because the Lord your God rules the heavens above
and the earth below! 12 So now, I want you to make a promise to me. I was
kind to you and helped you. So promise me before the Lord that you will be
kind to my family. Please tell me that you will do this. 13 Tell me that you
will allow my family to live-my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all
their families. Promise me that you will save us from death."
14 The men agreed and said, "We will trade our lives for yours. Don't tell
anyone what we are doing. Then, when the Lord gives us the land, we will be
kind to you. You can trust us."
15 Rahab's house was built into the city wall, so she used a rope to let the
men down through a window. 16 Then she said to them, "Go into the hills so
that the king's men will not accidentally find you. Hide there for three
days. After the king's men come back, you can go on your way."
17 The men said to her, "We made a promise to you. But you must do one
thing, or we will not be responsible for our promise. 18 When we come back
to this land, you must tie in your window this red rope you are using to
help us escape. You must bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and
all your family into your house with you. 19 We will protect everyone who
stays in this house. If anyone in your house is hurt, we will be
responsible. But if they go out of your house and are killed, we will not be
responsible. It will be their own fault. 20 We are making this agreement
with you. But if you tell anyone about what we are doing, we will be free
from this agreement."
21 Rahab answered, "I will do just what you said." She said goodbye, and the
men left her house. Then she tied the red rope in the window.
22 The men left her house and went into the hills. They stayed there for
three days. The king's men looked all along the road. After three days, they
stopped looking and went back to the city. 23 Then the two men went back to
Joshua. They left the hills and crossed the river. They went to Joshua and
told him everything that they had learned. 24 They said to him, "The Lord
really has given us all the land. All the people in that country are afraid
of us."
Footnotes:
Joshua 2:1 Acacia Or "Shittim," a town east of the Jordan River. Also in
3:1.
Joshua 2:6 flax A plant used to make linen.
