God is faithful
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9
From our text, God gave Joshua words of encouragement. This is one of the greatest expressions of reassurance provided by God from His word. This was given after Moses died. Now Joshua was called to succeed and was given the task to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. The call involved a military action that would surely involve an insurmountable struggle. No doubt, Joshua was anxious by the prospects of fighting a strong army. In the midst of this apprehension, the Lord spoke words of encouragement to him. The same encouragement still ring true for us today. With God’s assurance of His presence, Joshua obeyed and the people of God reached the Promised Land. Because of his faith and courage, he boldly took up the call of God. If he did not obey and listened to God, the Israelites could have remained wandering in the wilderness. Like Joshua, we are constantly confronted with challenges that seem to push our faith to its breaking point. And yet, it is through these experiences that God’s working seemed to be obvious. This leads to growth in our faith. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (James 1:2, 3). When you decline following Him because you ascertain that what He is asking you is too difficult and risky, the results can be devastating to your spiritual growth. You have to carefully weigh the possibility of experiencing devastating consequences because of disobedience. You will never become the person God wants you to when you do not take God in His word. You will also find it difficult to discover His will for your life. When you do not grow in your faith in Him, you will find that your life is governed by fear. Are you in some way resisting following God’s call and His will for your life? Just like Joshua, you will discover that once you obey, the Lord is dependable. “I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (2 Tim 1:12).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
