Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalms 89:11-37, Proverbs 13:17-19
What God said to me – There are typically two speeds in life depending on what phase of life you are in – times where you go, go, go and feel like you meet yourself coming and going or times when things have slowed so much you sit around with not much to do. In either case, reminders are necessary – when you are in the fast phase and you have so much to do, it is easy for something to fall through the cracks and when you are in the slow phase, it is easy to just forget because you are so chill and not used to going. Reminders are important. When Israel finally rested from taking the promised land and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh went back across the Jordan to possess the land Moses had given them, they built a replica of the altar, not for worship, but to remind them of who they were, who their God was and how they were to worship. The rest of the tribes, however, jumped to the wrong conclusion and assumed they were turning to idolatry, so they were ready to go to war over it. For whatever reason people usually assume the worst when they see or hear something rather than taking a breath, calming down, and listening to their explanation. Let this story about Israel be a reminder for you to stop when you see someone doing something you think is wrong, take a deep breath, and give them a chance to explain rather than assuming the worst and going off halfcocked. Honor Me with your unity and love for one another.