Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Josh 1:9)
Moses has just died. God is commissioning Joshua as the new leader of Israel. They are about to enter the promised land at last. Three times in this passage God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous (v 6,7,9). Now Joshua was a stout-hearted man, but even he might have been nervous about stepping into Moses’ shoes and leading the conquest of Canaan. Joshua had great faith in God, but perhaps part of his faith had really been in Moses all these years. Moses was clearly anointed by God. No one had such a relationship with the Lord as he had. If Moses said, "God commands us to do X", you could be confident that was what God commanded. There is a certain comfort in being second in command, especially to one like Moses. Now Joshua had to step out on his own. But he was not actually alone. God is reassuring Joshua that he will be with him just as he was with Moses.
There comes a time when we each have to step up, take responsibility for what God is leading us to do, and not wait for someone else to show us the way. When God gives you a task, be strong and courageous! He will go before you, behind you and beside you. You are never alone when you are walking in his will. Be strong and courageous!
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Times of Trouble
If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! (Pr 24:10)
Funny how you can read something over and over again, and then one day it just pops out at you. I would swear they just added this verse this month!
Our measure is not taken in the good times but in the bad. When the weather is mild, no one finds out whether you’re a good sailor or not. In our spiritual lives as well, there are seasons when life is easy and seasons when it is hard. There is no point in patting ourselves on the back for “being spiritual” when life is easy. The testing of our faith is in the hard times. I have failed that test too often. I let myself be discouraged; I give in to fear. But it doesn’t have to be that way. God is always present. His Spirit always lives in my heart. I don’t stop being his child in hard times. Lord, remind me of your presence and your power when I am discouraged. I know you always love me and you have a purpose for every bad thing you allow to happen to me. I know that I grow spiritually far more in trials than in easy times. I will trust you and lean on you when trials come. Amen.
Funny how you can read something over and over again, and then one day it just pops out at you. I would swear they just added this verse this month!
Our measure is not taken in the good times but in the bad. When the weather is mild, no one finds out whether you’re a good sailor or not. In our spiritual lives as well, there are seasons when life is easy and seasons when it is hard. There is no point in patting ourselves on the back for “being spiritual” when life is easy. The testing of our faith is in the hard times. I have failed that test too often. I let myself be discouraged; I give in to fear. But it doesn’t have to be that way. God is always present. His Spirit always lives in my heart. I don’t stop being his child in hard times. Lord, remind me of your presence and your power when I am discouraged. I know you always love me and you have a purpose for every bad thing you allow to happen to me. I know that I grow spiritually far more in trials than in easy times. I will trust you and lean on you when trials come. Amen.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
True Masculinity
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. (I Cor 16:13-14)
Many Christians today believe that the contemporary American church has feminized the Gospel. And it does seem like you are more likely to hear “Do everything in love” at church than “Be men of courage.” But there is really no conflict between these two. We have to remember what true Biblical love means. True love is acting in the best interest of others. True masculinity is not to be equated with selfishness or rashness but with strength and self-sacrifice. It is nevertheless true that I can’t recall every hearing verse 13 quoted in church. And, personally, I don’t think of myself as being particularly firm, courageous and strong. I've never been one of the guys who sit around talking about sports, hunting and physical abilities. It is easy to think of myself as less of a man because I am not physically robust and have different interests. But I don’t think Paul was speaking of physical strength, necessarily. I can be a man of faith, courage and strength of character. This is the kind of masculinity we most need and which is most lacking. I am no less a man for my lack of athletic skills. To be a real man, a godly man, I must cultivate an inner strength, the kind that comes only from God. Holy Spirit, mold me and shape me to walk in faith with courage and integrity, as a true man of God. Amen.
Many Christians today believe that the contemporary American church has feminized the Gospel. And it does seem like you are more likely to hear “Do everything in love” at church than “Be men of courage.” But there is really no conflict between these two. We have to remember what true Biblical love means. True love is acting in the best interest of others. True masculinity is not to be equated with selfishness or rashness but with strength and self-sacrifice. It is nevertheless true that I can’t recall every hearing verse 13 quoted in church. And, personally, I don’t think of myself as being particularly firm, courageous and strong. I've never been one of the guys who sit around talking about sports, hunting and physical abilities. It is easy to think of myself as less of a man because I am not physically robust and have different interests. But I don’t think Paul was speaking of physical strength, necessarily. I can be a man of faith, courage and strength of character. This is the kind of masculinity we most need and which is most lacking. I am no less a man for my lack of athletic skills. To be a real man, a godly man, I must cultivate an inner strength, the kind that comes only from God. Holy Spirit, mold me and shape me to walk in faith with courage and integrity, as a true man of God. Amen.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Unbowed and Unbroken
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. (Lk 6:29)
There is a common concern today that this passage seems too “wimpy” to take literally. Many people look for ways to explain it away by appealing to various ancient customs. A friend was telling me just the other day about such a Sunday School lesson he had heard. But I think Jesus meant what he said, and I don’t think it is wimpy at all. There is tremendous strength and dignity in being able to take every blow of the enemy and stand tall, unafraid of the next blow. The same is true of enduring the hardship of an oppressor. By our strength and our refusal to retaliate we send a powerful message that we will not be broken, neither will we descend to the level of our adversary. I think the man in v29 who turns the other cheek is a lot like the house in v48 that was built on the rock and withstood the onslaught of the flood. Jesus exhibited this kind of strength on Calvary. Let us emulate our Lord and do the same.
There is a common concern today that this passage seems too “wimpy” to take literally. Many people look for ways to explain it away by appealing to various ancient customs. A friend was telling me just the other day about such a Sunday School lesson he had heard. But I think Jesus meant what he said, and I don’t think it is wimpy at all. There is tremendous strength and dignity in being able to take every blow of the enemy and stand tall, unafraid of the next blow. The same is true of enduring the hardship of an oppressor. By our strength and our refusal to retaliate we send a powerful message that we will not be broken, neither will we descend to the level of our adversary. I think the man in v29 who turns the other cheek is a lot like the house in v48 that was built on the rock and withstood the onslaught of the flood. Jesus exhibited this kind of strength on Calvary. Let us emulate our Lord and do the same.
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