King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Find Refuge, Rest, And Peace
Date: Saturday March 10, 2012
Today's Chapters: Joshua 20-22

Hello My Friend,

I have a friend, she is one of the fortunate who grew up in the right church and never strayed, even during college. Of course, I completely strayed because I grew up in the wrong church. However, after my rebellion it taught me one valuable lesson, I NEED JESUS! When I lived in the world all I did was turn myself into someone that God did not nor I wanted to be, I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror because I did not know who that person was. When I found Jesus I truly understood what He saved me from, my friend on the other hand, had a hard time understanding what it truly meant to have Jesus in her life, it wasn't until she witnessed something that she truly understood that she too was a sinner saved by grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of God's perfect Son. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” - Ephesians 2:8.

The word refuge means shelter or protection from danger or distress, a strong hold which protects by its strength; any place inaccessible to an enemy. After Joshua appointed land to all the tribes, God commanded that each tribe have cities of refuge for anyone in danger of their lives who may have killed someone by mistake. “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.” - Joshua 20:2-6.

Those who receive Christ as their Savior find refuge in Christ, He saves us from judgment. Once we receive Christ no one can touch us, but we also have an enemy, Satan, and he will do anything to get us to think that God is not with us. The truth is, we are going to mess up once in a while, some of us really big, but we are still safe and secure under the watch of Christ, who has a strong hold on us and will never let us go. People might try to let Jesus go and even renounce their faith in Him, but just like a person cannot renounce a child, even if they deny the child is theirs, God cannot renounce one of His children. We are adopted into His family the second we receive Christ and nothing, not even denying Him after we are saved, can separate us. Remember, we are saved by grace, which is unmerited favor, and not by any good that we have done for God. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” - Ephesians 1:5-7.

The great thing about finding refuge in Christ is finding rest, after God commanded Israel to give portions of their land to the Levites it was time for Israel to have rest from war and to enjoy the land given to them by God. “And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs...And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” - Joshua 21:3,43-45.

Now that everything was settled in Canaan it was time for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh to enjoy their land. Joshua blessed them, but reminded them to be diligent in their walk with God since they would not be on the promised land. “And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan. But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” - Joshua 22:2-5.

It is important that we serve God in our homes just as we do in the church, we are to be an example and witness to those who live in the world of the greatness of living a life through Christ. We are going to face trials and tribulation with or without God, how much more can we endure and get through it with the power of God on our side? Let me tell you, I have gotten myself into some messes and without God all I did was create a bigger mess. It was not until I went to God that I found not only refuge and rest, but a way out and even learned something valuable from it. Trials make us into the person God wants us to be not who we think we need to be. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1:7-9.

Since our enemy's main objective is to get us away from God he will use anyone and anything to do it, even family and friends. When the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh got to their land they decided to build an altar as a reminder, to them and generations after them, that they too were a part of Israel. However, when the tribes in Canaan heard that they built an altar it caused so much strife that nearly a war began. Even though the tribes were on the other side of the promised land they knew they were God's people, therefore, they knew it was important to teach their children that even though they are not living in the promised land, they are still children of God.

“Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,..For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD...And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.” - Joshua 22:23,25-27,31,34.

All who accept Christ are children of God, unless we receive Him God will not acknowledge us as one of His. It is important that we be a witness to all and future generations. Ignorance does not save us, people die and end up in hell every day because the only time they even know Jesus is when they die and face Him. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” -Acts 17:30,31.

Today's Psalm: 106:8 - “Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.”

Today's Proverb: 7:15 - “Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.”

Today's Prayer: God, It is comforting to know that even if I mess up real bad that you will not disown me, but I do not want to be a child that just gets to receive Your inheritance because I am one of Yours. I want to prove myself to You, to show You how much I do love you and thank You for the sacrifice You made for me. While I know it is only by Your grace that I am saved and that nothing I do earns my salvation, I am willing to be witness that so many need to give them refuge, rest, and peace through their trials. Lord, help me too, to be reminded that You are my refuge, rest, and peace through me trials as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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