God’s Promises π€ Blessings and Curses | Joshua 23 Devotional (7-Step QT)
7-Step QT Notes
1. π Quiet Time
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Ask God to help you love Him fully and live faithfully to His covenant.
2. π December 28, 2025
Today’s passage reminds us:
God’s promises include both blessings and curses.
3. ✝️ Joshua 23:11-16
Joshua warns Israel to love the Lord wholeheartedly. If they turn back, intermarry, and cling to the remaining nations, those nations will become traps and thorns, leading to ruin. Joshua reminds them that every good promise from God has been fulfilled. But just as God kept His good promises, He will also bring judgment if they break His covenant and worship other gods. Then His anger will burn against them, and they will quickly perish from the good land He gave them.
4. π Key Verse
If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you. (v. 16)
5. π Reflection
Today, many criticize Christianity as “prosperity gospel” or “vending machine faith.” While healthy critique is good, one-sided attacks often miss the truth. Why has asking for God’s blessing become something to condemn? Maybe because some Christians highlight blessings while ignoring warnings.
God’s promises are real—but they include both blessing and judgment. Joshua reminds Israel: keep the covenant and prosper; break it and face God’s wrath. This isn’t harsh—it’s reality. God is faithful to His Word.
For us, loving God means more than seeking blessings. It means obedience, loyalty, and rejecting idols—anything that competes with Him. His promises will come to pass. Choose faithfulness today.
6. π¬ What does this passage speak to you today?
- Where am I tempted to seek blessings without obedience?
- What “idols” compete for my heart?
- How can I live out covenant faithfulness in my daily choices?
7. π Prayer
Lord, help me love You fully and obey Your Word.
Keep my heart from idols and compromise.
Let my life reflect Your promises and Your holiness.
Amen.
Scriptures
π 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. 12 For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, 13 know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you.
14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. 15 But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you, 16 if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.” (Joshua 23:11-16, ESV).


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