Daily Devotional
"And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel."
Joshua 8:34-35
All the words. Not just the comfortable ones, not just the encouraging ones, not just the promises of blessing. Joshua read everything – the blessings and the curses, the promises and the warnings, the grace and the truth. God’s people need to hear the complete counsel of God.
Too many of us want a selective gospel. We want the verses about God’s love and acceptance, but we don’t want to hear about His holiness and justice. We want the promises without the commands, the blessings without acknowledging the consequences of disobedience. But that’s not how God’s word works – it’s a package deal.
If we’re going to live in covenant relationship with God, we need to hear it all. This is why regular Bible reading matters – not just reading inspiring verses here and there, but working through the entire counsel of God. This is why consistent church attendance and small group participation are crucial – so we can hear the whole word of God, even the parts that challenge us.
Today's Challenge
What parts of God's word do you tend to avoid or skip over? How can you commit to receiving the complete counsel of God, including the challenging passages?
Prayer
Lord, give me a heart that desires all of Your word, not just the comfortable parts. Help me to embrace both Your grace and Your truth, Your promises and Your commands. Guard me from the temptation to create a selective gospel that only includes what I want to hear. Make me hungry for Your complete counsel. In Jesus' name, Amen.
