I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
     The first part of today’s reading is from the book of Joshua where Joshua is dividing the land of Canaan up among the tribes. One of the first things I note is the recurring theme that the Israelites failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land. God had commanded them to drive all of the Canaanites out of the promised land and had promised to do so for them. The Bible does not really tell us why God did not fully drive the Canaanites out of the land for the Israelites. However the fact that as the Israelites became strong instead of driving the Canaanites out from among them, they enslaved them, may have something to with this. This failure to drive the Canaanites out is the seed of many of Israel’s later problems.
     The next part of the reading is the story of Zacchaeus and the parable of the talents from Luke 19. I have known Christians who do not associate with non-Christians. I often wonder how they expect to fulfill Jesus’ command to make disciples of all the earth if they never spend any time with those who are not already followers of Jesus. I understand that some new Christians need to avoid associating with those who would tempt them to fall back into their sinful lifestyle. But I have known long time Christians who avoid any socialization with non-Christians and who question the righteousness of those who do otherwise. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus spent a lot of time socializing with those considered sinners in His day. This story is yet another example of this. Zacchaeus was anxious to see this man that all the area was talking about. Jesus told Zacchaeus that He must come to Zacchaeus’ house that day. He did not say this because Zacchaeus was a righteous man, but because Zacchaeus was a sinner. The crowd was displeased with Jesus’ choice of hosts. They thought He should choose a more “appropriate” person to be His host. Zacchaeus responded to Jesus’ outreach to him by promising to change his life around. In the Torah, the law called for fourfold restitution for theft. Zacchaeus promised to not only restore fourfold to those whom he had defrauded, but to give one half of his wealth to the poor. Jesus told the crowd that He came to seek and save the lost. How can we as Christians claim to be imitating Christ if we do not also seek the lost (and hopefully, through the Spirit’s intervention, save them)?
     The second part of today’s passage from Luke is one that troubles me. It is quite clear. Those who are given gifts from God (whether talents, or money, or other benefits) are expected to make good use of those gifts. I have been given quite a bit in my life both in talents and material goods, yet I have failed to make good use of those gifts for the glory of God. I have long struggled with knowing what God wants me to do, but I know that I must work at being more active in serving Him, even if I do not know what path He wishes me to follow. I have heard it said that it is easier to guide something that is in motion to the correct course than something that is stationary. I must make a stronger effort to put myself in motion, even if it is in the wrong direction, so that God may more readily guide my path.
     Next we have a Psalm about Jerusalem. It is one of several interesting (and perhaps troubling) Bible passages about the importance of Jerusalem as the City of God in light of the current state of affairs in that part of the world.
     The final element of today’s reading is a Proverb. I read several translations of this to get a clear idea of it. I think it is something that is important to remember. The way to wealth is to gather wealth over time, not to attempt to get it quickly or through fraud. When one looks at the lives of many retired athletes, or those who have won the lottery, one sees the truth of this Proverb.