READING PLAN:
Joshua 1:1-9

Author: Cooper Herrington

Transitions can be hard. Whether it is a new job, a new city, a new house, or a new school, it can be stressful, to say the least. Imagine being in Joshua’s shoes. Moses, the leader who freed Israel from slavery, has just died, and now you in are in charge. Then on top of that minor detail, you are to move into the land that your ancestors were promised years ago. Wow! I am sure Joshua wasn’t feeling much pressure at all! In all of this, God called Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Joshua was able to defy the odds and stand strong and courageous because God was with him, and God had given him the law. When you hear the law, you might think about legalism or just keeping the rules. The law discussed in Joshua and by Jesus is a thing of beauty. God gave the law to the people to help them follow Him and love others. The law was meant to be a gift to God’s people, not a burden. God’s Word is a gift that is given to us to transform our hearts and minds to be more like Jesus - to think, act, and love like Him. Joshua was able to be strong and courageous because he kept the law on his lips. He meditated on it day and night. That can be true of us, too. God’s Word is active and alive. It has the power to change us when we study it and live by what it says.

As we close out this week, read each verse again. Let each word sink in as you read it. Go slow. Ask God to show you something new, even if it is a passage that you have read hundreds of times before. Spend a few minutes meditating on a verse or two that stood out to you. Once you have done that, make a goal for how you will apply that scripture to your life today. It can be helpful to have a cue ready, something like: When I hear/ see/ do ____, then I will ___. It might even be helpful to come up with a reward for yourself if you meet your goal. I always like to have pizza on Friday nights, but find something that works for you.

REFLECTION & RESPONSE:
1. What verse stood out to you this week? Why did it seem important or relevant?
2. Take time to share this verse with someone and explain why it stood out to you.

Be sure to go to the Daily Devo section of the Venture Church App on Saturday and Sunday to read and reflect on Jesus in the tomb and His Resurrection.

READ: Matthew 27:11-61

THE BACKSTORY: On Friday, Jesus was brought to Pilate, the governor, for a trial to decide if Jesus did anything wrong. Pilate said he couldn’t find anything that Jesus had done wrong, but the crowd wanted Jesus to be put to death anyway. Pilate let the crowd have their way and agreed to hand Jesus over to them to be killed. Jesus was beaten, mocked, and nailed on the cross. He died a very painful death, but not because He had done anything wrong. Jesus knew this was a part of God’s plan for all people to be forgiven and have a relationship with Him. We all have done something that God said wasn’t good; that means we have sinned. God wanted us to have a relationship with Him forever, so He sent Jesus to earth to live a perfect life so that He could take the punishment for our sins on the cross. Jesus willingly went to the cross and died the death we deserved as sinners. He died so that we could have a new life with God. When we think about the cross, we can remember what Jesus did for us. After Jesus died, his body was placed in a borrowed grave, a temporary tomb, but the story doesn’t end there—Easter is coming!

LIFE APPLICATION:
• Why did Jesus have to die? - God knew it was the only way. Jesus was perfect. He never sinned. He took on the punishment for our sins: past, present, and future. Because of Jesus, we can be saved.
• When you do things that are wrong, God promises to forgive you. Take some time to tell God how truly sorry you are for the things you may have done wrong.

PRAYER: Lord, how amazing is Your love! Thank You for sending Jesus to save me from my sins. Let me always remember the sacrifice You made for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.