Joshua 23:11-13 (KJV)
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

God warned Israel, through Joshua, of the ease in which a believer can slip away from loving God.

There are all around us in this world, things that crave our attention, and our affection. From the ways we spend our time to the people we are drawn to as companions, Christians are constantly enticed into compromising relationships. It is only through awareness of the problem and diligence in our walk with God that our love of Him is steadfast.

And it is only in our love for Him that we find blessing.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Joshua 23:11-13 (KJV) The Ease of Slipping

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Joshua 22:17 (KJV)
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

The iniquity of Peor was idolatry. More than that is was idolatry initiated through compromise. When Balaam was forbidden of God to curse Israel, he accomplished the same purpose by convincing Balak and the Midianites to join hand in hand. This “friendship with the world” led to Israel’s idolatry and then to God’s judgment against them.

Now Notice Israel’s assessment of that judgment these many years later, “from which we are not cleansed unto this day.” They were judged then by a plague but still the consequences of their compromise lingered. The problem with leaven in the flour barrel is that, try as you might, you can never get it all out.

• Compromise plagued Israel through every generation up to and including today
• Compromise plagues Christianity in general and 
• Compromise is to one degree or another hindering every believer’s walk with Christ 

We simply cannot afford to compromise further.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Joshua 22:17 (KJV) We Can’t Afford Compromise

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Joshua 21:1-3 (KJV)
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

The New Testament Christian has been made both king and priest. As such the Levitical priesthood has something to teach the Christian.

• Upon Levi was pronounced a judgment for his part in the slaughter of Shechem. 
• It was this judgment that determined they would have no lot in Israel but be scattered throughout their brethren 
• The ministry of the priesthood required they be nearby to all of their brethren 
• So their judgment became a blessing to themselves and their brethren 

Christians might fairly call themselves the chiefest of sinners. Far from earning salvation, we have been given a gift we could never deserve. As the Spirit-born children of God we are strangers and pilgrims in this world. We are scattered across the face of this earth as witnesses to those around us of God’s goodness.

God turned the curse into a blessing.

To my readers:
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Joshua 21:1-3 (KJV) God Turned The Curse Into a Blessing

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Hebrews 9:5 (KJV)
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Hebrews 9:8 (KJV)
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

There is a reason some things are not as clear as we might wish they were. God has never intended to explain everything to us. Sometimes the lesson is in the lack of information.

I appreciate that the Apostle did not attempt to speak about that which he could not speak. He learned the lesson and moved on to those things about which we do have good and complete information. Great spiritual harm happens when would be prophets claim knowledge that has no Biblical support:

• Doctrines concerning spiritual warfare
• Lessons having to do with speaking in tongues or other spiritual gifts even 
• Expositions on the Holy Spirit Himself

that reach beyond the parameters of Biblical truth are a small example of those subjects that some have presumed to teach and preach when they should have said they could not now speak particularly.

Younger preachers would do well to exercise this practice themselves and admit they are not yet ready to speak particularly on certain subjects. Spurgeon taught young preachers to avoid controversial subjects. Too many young preachers of our day arrogantly venture into territory they have no particular knowledge, training or experience in. I understand that Christians of the first several centuries called their pastors from among their seniors. The Word of God cautions that they should not be novices.

Bottom line  if you cannot speak particularly on a subject, admit it and move on.

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Hebrews 9:5 (KJV) When Best To Be Quiet

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Hebrews 8:2 (KJV)
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Gill says that the distinction here must not be between earth and heaven because:

• It would explain one with a more obscure one
• It would be unnecessary because obviously the Lord pitches the one in heaven

He says the distinction is between the Old Testament ministry of Moses and the New Testament one of Christ. The true tabernacle would be the local church. This would then not be a proof passage for the universal or, as some call it, the true church. There is no such thing ever taught in the Bible. The passage is consistent with what we find throughout Hebrews, a contrast between the old covenant delivered through Moses and the new and better one delivered through Jesus.

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Hebrews 8:2 (KJV) No Proof of Universal Church

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Hebrews 7:22 (KJV)
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

We would not likely use the word surety today. We would use the word, security. It is an amount of money or an item put up to guarantee our performance of a thing. When a person makes an offer on a house for instance, he puts up earnest money to prove his sincerity.

The proof of God’s sincerity in saving those who call upon Him is Jesus. The gospel is the earnest, the security of our eternal life.

We are saved certainly because we are secured by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Hebrews 7:22 (KJV) Security of Salvation

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Hebrews 6:10-12 (KJV)
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The desire of God’s Word is that no Christian be slothful in our spiritual labor. The desire is rather that we are diligent.

• It is not a command
• It is not a requirement 

It is a desire.

Diligence does not save us. That is the result of the promise of God, secured with His oath. Diligence is the heart’s desire of faithful Christians because it is our only measure of another’s faith. I can only hope another is saved. I base my hope in their testimony and by their life for God. If the life doesn’t measure up to their oral testimony I am left with doubts and the concern that they might not be truly saved.

Don’t blame a Christian for wishing you would live for God. He is merely reflecting the concern of the Bible and care for you.

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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Hebrews 6:10-12 (KJV) Diligence Is The Desire of God’s Word

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Hebrews 5:1 (KJV)
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

The passage compares and contrasts the high priestly ministries of the Levitical priesthood and that of Christ. There are differences:

• Christ is eternal High Priest
• Christ need not offer for his own sins and
• Christ offered Himself as sacrifice 

But there are similarities too. Among them:

• He did not call Himself to be High Priest 
• He suffered in this role and
• He was from men, for men pertaining to those things having to do with God

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Hebrews 5:1 (KJV) From Men, For Men, To God

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Hebrews 4:2 (KJV)
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

God has determined that it is by the foolishness of preaching that souls be saved. He has placed the power of God unto salvation in the Gospel. He has promised that His Word never returns void and that it will accomplish His purpose. But there is a moment when preaching is without profit. God says it is without profit if it is not mixed with faith.

We have to believe the Word of God to benefit and profit from it. This is true of salvation. It is also true of our walk with God. Unless we believe the Word we will not obey the Word. If we don’t obey the Word we will not see the fruit of the Word produced in us.

There were thousands of Jews, walking through the wilderness with Moses, who did not believe. They were there because they didn’t know where else to be. They went through everything all the believers did, but it profited them nothing.

Believe.

Hear God’s Word and believe it.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Hebrews 4:2 (KJV) Believe It

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Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

My first observation is that this chapter is a consideration of Christ, and not of the brethren. Making the Bible about us and not about God does so much damage.

My second observation is that this chapter is written to holy brethren who are partakers of the heavenly calling. The chapter then describes those brethren in a series of “if’s.”

• If we hold fast
• If ye will hear His voice 
• If we hold the beginning of our confidence…

It is not that, “if we do these things” we earn our right to be holy brethren but that, “if we do these things” it proves in fact that we are partakers of the “heavenly calling.”

To my readers:
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Hebrews 3:1 (KJV) If You Do This…

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Hebrews 2:11 (KJV)
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

The context reaches back to the suffering of Christ. We are told that God has put all things under His feet, but that is not yet our experience (or Christ’s) and that this experience of suffering and of waiting on our promise unite us with Christ.

• Christ-the One who suffered for our salvation 
• Christians-those who serve Christ in salvation 

we are “all of One.”

The One is God the Father

• He ordained Christ’s gospel 
• He saves those who receive that Gospel 
• He orchestrates eternal ends 

The Sanctifier (Christ) and the sanctified (Christians) are one in the purpose of God.

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Hebrews 2:11 (KJV) All Of One

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Hebrews 1:9 (KJV)
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

This passage is, of course, speaking of Jesus Christ.

• He loved righteousness 
• He hated iniquity and
• He has been anointed with the oil of gladness 

I would suggest that this gladness refers to His ultimate success. His reward and the thing that brings Christ joy, is:

• The salvation of souls
• The defeat of Satan and 
• The finality of eternity 

I think there is a hint at what brings gladness to the people of God:

• To love righteousness and
• To hate iniquity 

Will, in the end, lead to our own gladness.

The principles should be taken personally or, more likely, corporately in our church. We have no good authority to force righteousness upon the lost or unduly condemn their iniquity. They need Jesus and not reformation. No, these principles should be applied personally. When we pursue righteousness and eschew wickedness,

• In ourselves
• In our families and 
• In our churches

We may, I am confident, expect to be anointed with gladness as God grants us victories.

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Hebrews 1:9 (KJV) Principles Of Gladness

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Joshua 13:6-7 (KJV)
All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

The passage begins “in the red.” Joshua is old. The days of his labor are drawing to an end but there is still a lot of work to do. God’s purpose, in this passage, is to lead him to get it done.

We may be able to use the passage to inspire our own productivity when we find ourselves behind.

There was a promise from God
God would drive out the enemy before them. We have God’s promise of help when we put our hands to the plow.

There was a plan to be made
The Land was to be divided. Look at it as delegation. Each tribe was given a chunk of the work to do. Planning and delegation always precede accomplishment.

There was a command given
We can lean on promises and make plans all we wish. If we want to get the job done we have to get up and do it. No plan will be foolproof. No assignment will be accomplished with 100 percent efficiency. Adjustments will need to be made as we move along. But failure to move in favor of better planning is failure all its own.

There is plenty for us all to do in God’s work. Let’s:

• Claim His promises
• Make a plan
• Accept some responsibility and 
• Get after it

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Joshua 13:6-7 (KJV) Get After It!

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Titus 3:1-6 (KJV)
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

The Apostle gives two clear reasons why Christians ought to be gracious to all men, treating them gently and saying nothing evil about them:

First, because we were just like them
Truth is, we probably still are. It is shameful how little Christians these days are different than unbelievers. We are likely to:

• Speak like them 
• Behave like them 
• Enjoy the same things as them and 
• Respond to life no differently than them 

We have no reason to treat them poorly. We are of the same stock.

Second, because it was the kindness of God that saved and changed us
It was not our own works of righteousness. It was nothing we did to deserve God’s grace. It was:

• His grace 
• His kindness
• His work of righteousness and 
• His sacrifice 

that saved us.

We ought to be open about what we believe to be Scriptural but we do not need to be mean spirited toward those who don’t see things as we do.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Titus 3:1-6 (KJV) Why Be Gracious

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Joshua 9:3-6 (KJV)
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

Seems to me that there are a bunch of folks like this in churches. Christian history is filled with accounts of wily workers. These are people who, for any number of reasons, have made a league and joined a church group.

• They may have been afraid of God
• They may have been impressed with the congregation 
• They may have seen an opportunity for improvement 

Whatever the reason, they never met Jesus and they never became part of the family. They are (technically) members of the church but they have no fellowship with the Holy Spirit. They go about serving Christianity in the power of the flesh. They are unhappy and they are ineffective unless they can overpower others or buy their influence.

True believers are far from perfect but they are born again into God’s family.

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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Joshua 9:3-6 (KJV) Wily Workers in Church

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