Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 18:1-10. Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2018&version=NASB1995
“Then the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled themselves at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.
There remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes who had not divided their inheritance. So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe that I may send them, and that they may arise and walk through the land and write a description of it according to their inheritance; then they shall return to me.” Joshua 18:1-4.
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Verses 3-4, highlighted above in bold italic font, lead us to consider, so to speak, how we take possession of heaven which is our inheritance. Consider the following Scriptures.
Scripture commands us to learn what Heaven is like.
“Walk about Zion and go around her;
Count her towers;
Consider her ramparts;
Go through her palaces,
That you may tell it to the next generation.” Psalm 48:12-13.
Are we content to stay put and accept the world’s image of heaven (such as descriptions of vague, weak, fleeting, and worthless clouds), or, so to speak, do we eagerly walk through Scriptures and go around Scriptures, relying on Scriptures to form our understanding of Heaven (such as this description of strong and permanent “towers”, “ramparts” and “palaces”)?
Let us follow the example of Abraham “for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:10.
In today’s Scripture, Joshua commanded: “Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe that I may send them, and that they may arise and walk through the land and write a description of it according to their inheritance; then they shall return to me.” Verse 4.
Showing that we believe in what we read in Scripture about Heaven, we want to learn more.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21.
At the top of most pages in my website, there is a headnote titled “Heaven” which provides some Scriptures about Heaven. Here is a direct link to it – https://reformeddoctrine.com/heaven/
By faith, through God’s grace working in us, we take action and press on toward the goal of Heaven. We invest all that we have to gain Heaven, even our life.
“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14.
“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19.
“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things (see prior verses of 2 Peter 1:5-9), you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 Peter 1:10-11.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.
“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 