INSTRUCTIONS FOR US TOO

 

September 13, 2023

 

Joshua 1:1-9 

After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 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.”

Hebrews 13:5-9 NLT

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Do not let fear stop you.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, I know you have been there. In those seasons, would you agree, that we often feel like we don't know what we are doing? 

Well, in todays reading, Joshua was in the same situation. Put yourself in Joshua's position.  Moses the only real leader the Israelites had ever had. He was what we might call the GOAT, (Greatest of All Time) and Joshua had been Moses’ assistant. Then, Moses dies, and the entire burden of leading the Israelites was on Joshua. Now put yourself there, your Joshua, what are you experiencing? There would be some heavy duty pressure on your shoulders, those are some big sandals to fill. I suspect we would all feel a considerable amount of FEAR.

 So, as God is giving Joshua instructions, in makes total sense that God says three different times: 

Be strong and courageous.

God knew Joshua had a huge task in front of him. He knew Joshua was probably scared out his mind. But God also knew that He had a plan and that He was going to go with Joshua. God was saying Joshua your my man. That is why Joshua could be strong and courageous, he knew he had God on his side.

Here is the comforting good news in this story: God will go with you, too. As God was with Joshua, God will be with us. Today, Our Creator says :"be strong and courageous", "Be strong and very courageous," Be strong and courageous, Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 

You may be dealing with an unexpected setback, as you follow God's path and call, or maybe your afraid about the future, or maybe you do not feel like you know what to do. God is with you. We might not get the full blueprint of where God is leading us, yet we can trust God with our future, knowing His plans are always, always, better than our own.

Finally, we must remember and know that God cares about us and loves us more than you can comprehend. No matter what life throws at you, God will never leave you nor forsake you. Life changes, but God never changes, and neither does His love for us. Our second Reading above ends with the truth that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So remember this: God’s plan may not always be clear, but it’s always better than you can ask for or imagine. And when you truly know and believe that, you are ready for anything, because when God is at work anything can happen!! 

 I want to pray the words of the Apostle Paul over you today from  Ephesians 3:12-21.

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I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. 

Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.