Monday: A Sign of Concern

Daily Lesson for Monday 15th of December 2025

The glorious conclusion of the whole section (Joshua 21:43-45) carries within it the fulfilled condition of obedience. Success is never to be taken for granted; it is always linked to obedience to God’s Word. Thus, the allotment of the land, besides being the token of God’s faithfulness to Israel (Nehemiah 9:8), creates space for an open-ended future development based on Israel’s attitude. Will Israel be able to secure what has been achieved?

Read Joshua 23:1-5. What are the major focal points of Joshua’s introduction?

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Joshua’s speech moves from the old and aged speaker (emphasized twice) to the audience who will have to carry on the mission entrusted to them by God. He describes how the conquest of the land was possible: the Lord fought for them. Even though, because of their unfaithfulness and disbelief, the Israelites had to be involved in warfare after the Exodus, it was not through their military power but through God’s intervention that they managed to possess the land.

God has given rest to Israel from its enemies, but there are some nations left that still have to be dispossessed. Victory is not an accomplished, unchangeable reality for Israel but an ever-present possibility by constant reliance in faithfulness on God’s available help.

What are the similarities between how the Israelites conquered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership and the way Christians today can live a victorious spiritual life? (Read Joshua 23:10, Colossians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, and Ephesians 6:11-18.)

The victories of the Israelites could not be attributed to their strength and strategy. Similarly, spiritual victory over sin and temptation have been secured through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but God’s people today must constantly rely on the spiritual supplies provided by the Holy Spirit in order to live a triumphant life.

With so many wonderful promises before us, why do we still find it so easy to sin?

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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So much of our conversation about daily living in Christian circles is about overcoming sin. It can be pretty discouraging at times. It comes with feelings of guilt that we are not doing the right thing. And feelings of pride that we have overcome another sin, in our journey to perfection.

Perhaps one of our biggest sins is our focus. If we are spending so much time thinking about sin, what time do we have left to think about the good things.

William Johnsson was the editor of “The Review and Herald” (Our Church’s long-running main magazine). He had this to say:

Cheer the people on. That was the signature advice of Pastor W. A. Spicer, president of the General Conference a century ago. Speaking to pastors, he encouraged them to understand their role as cheerleaders, not guardians, and certainly not policemen.
I wish that all our leaders, beginning with the General Conference president, would follow Spicer’s advice. How refreshing it would be if every message coming out of Silver Spring or from the pulpit would echo the apostle Paul: “I thank God for you” (1 Cor. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:3). Check out Paul as a cheerleader: see how in his letters he affirms the people, commending them for their spiritual growth and faithfulness (Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Eph. 1:15-16).
And, of course, it began with Jesus of Nazareth. He understood his mission to be bringing good news to the poor, healing to the broken, and announcing the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18, 19). Jesus was cheerleader par excellence.
The Adventist Church today is big and global. Members live in almost every country, under vastly diverse conditions. And we own and operate a network of hospitals and clinics, as well as a global education system. Affirm the people. Affirm all that doctors, dentists and other health-care workers do. Affirm the teachers, the professors, the college and university presidents. Affirm those who teach in small, one-room elementary schools. Affirm the parents, especially the single moms and dads.
Cheer the people on! William Johnsson, Top Seven: My Adventist Wish List*

If we are busy affirming one another in Christ, we will be so busy we will have little time left to sin!

Another old man wrote this:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8

These old men had the cure for sin-inspired, aging grumpiness.

[*William Johnsson wrote that in 2021. He died in 2023. He was born in Adelaide, South Australia and had a degree in Chemistry. I met him when I was teaching in Adelaide in the 1980s]

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Monday: A Sign of Concern — 1 Comment

Maurice Ashton on December 14, 2025 at 3:04 pm said:

So much of our conversation about daily living in Christian circles is about overcoming sin. It can be pretty discouraging at times. It comes with feelings of guilt that we are not doing the right thing. And feelings of pride that we have overcome another sin, in our journey to perfection.

Perhaps one of our biggest sins is our focus. If we are spending so much time thinking about sin, what time do we have left to think about the good things.

William Johnsson was the editor of “The Review and Herald” (Our Church’s long-running main magazine). He had this to say:

Cheer the people on. That was the signature advice of Pastor W. A. Spicer, president of the General Conference a century ago. Speaking to pastors, he encouraged them to understand their role as cheerleaders, not guardians, and certainly not policemen.
I wish that all our leaders, beginning with the General Conference president, would follow Spicer’s advice. How refreshing it would be if every message coming out of Silver Spring or from the pulpit would echo the apostle Paul: “I thank God for you” (1 Cor. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:3). Check out Paul as a cheerleader: see how in his letters he affirms the people, commending them for their spiritual growth and faithfulness (Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Eph. 1:15-16).
And, of course, it began with Jesus of Nazareth. He understood his mission to be bringing good news to the poor, healing to the broken, and announcing the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18, 19). Jesus was cheerleader par excellence.
The Adventist Church today is big and global. Members live in almost every country, under vastly diverse conditions. And we own and operate a network of hospitals and clinics, as well as a global education system. Affirm the people. Affirm all that doctors, dentists and other health-care workers do. Affirm the teachers, the professors, the college and university presidents. Affirm those who teach in small, one-room elementary schools. Affirm the parents, especially the single moms and dads.
Cheer the people on! William Johnsson, Top Seven: My Adventist Wish List*

If we are busy affirming one another in Christ, we will be so busy we will have little time left to sin!

Another old man wrote this:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8

These old men had the cure for sin-inspired, aging grumpiness.

[*William Johnsson wrote that in 2021. He died in 2023. He was born in Adelaide, South Australia and had a degree in Chemistry. I met him when I was teaching in Adelaide in the 1980s]

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Sabbath School Net

Seventh-day Adventist Bible Study Discussion

Read Joshua 23:1-5. What are the major focal points of Joshua’s introduction?

What are the similarities between how the Israelites conquered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership and the way Christians today can live a victorious spiritual life? (Read Joshua 23:10, Colossians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, and Ephesians 6:11-18.)

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Monday: A Sign of Concern — 1 Comment

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