“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.”
Joshua 1:9
When we are called by God our Savior out of sin’s bondage, we begin to journey with Him. We follow Him as our Captain and Leader into the promised purpose of the future, our destiny. Along the way, God will stretch us. He will enlarge the horizons of our vision.
Jim Elliot, the great missionary who gave his life trying to reach the Auca Indians said, “Am I Dangerous?”
If we are honest with ourselves, we may find that we are utterly ordinary and commonplace. We profess to know a power the world cannot reckon with. We are all sideliners, coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers, while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. We are often spiritual pacifists, conscientious objectors in this battle to the death with principalities and powers in the heavenly places. The world cannot hate us; we are too much like its own. Oh, that God would make us dangerous!
How do we get there? According to Joshua there are several principles:
Choose to be strong.
Choose to be courageous.
Choose to be obedient.
Read Joshua 1 and write down everything God commands him to do. Then reflect how these commands compare with what the Lord is calling you to do.
Prayer Focus: Pray 2 Chronicles 15:7 for our church, “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Ask the Lord to embolden us with strength, courage, and submission to Him to follow the path He has placed before us. Pray these traits for yourself as well.
