JUL 31

Joshua 1:8
Memorise Joshua 1:7-8
”Only be thou strong and very courageous”

Moses, the great servant of the LORD who had led the Israelites out of slavery and through their wilderness wonderings, had died. The awesome task and duty of leading the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land now fell to Joshua. The baton of leadership and duty was thus passed from one servant of the LORD to another. Joshua had been trained under Moses. The Word of God, as given to Moses, must now always guide Joshua. It must always be in his thoughts and form the basis for all his thinking and action. It must be the very foundation upon which all his leadership principles and decisions were based on. Everything that came from his mouth – teaching, commands must be according to the Word. He must meditate – study and ponder it all the time – and then obey it completely. Every part of the law was to be his guiding light. The adversaries were great and the faith of the Israelites would be tested. But if Joshua were faithful and obedient to lead the people according to God’s way, and not his own or the ways of other men, then the result would be success as promised by God!

The Bible is the Word of God. Every word, every doctrine is essential and thus ‘compulsory’; not in a bad way, but for our own good! Sadly, many Christians and churches have a poor knowledge of the Bible. And, if a doctrine is unpopular or deemed irrelevant, it is not taught and is ignored! Obedience? That also seems to be optional. Christians, like the Israelites, are in a spiritual battle. Can we afford not to know the law, not to be faithful to it or not to obey it? Hence, “Bible” with Presbyterian – our system of church government and Calvinist theology – distinguishes our church from others. It clearly proclaims the foundation of our faith – the Word of God. In its entirety, it instructs every aspect of our lives, and by our testimony and faithful teaching of it, instructs future generations. As young students of God’s Word, as Joshua once was, God demands that you are diligent and obedient students of His Word. The time will come when it is your turn to train up future generations when the present leaders in your church pass away.

Thought: As you mature in your faith, do you pray for and work to have the knowledge, courage and obedience of Joshua?
Prayer: Right now, may all of the Word of God be my guide to live a victorious Christian testimony for Him and do His will totally in complete obedience.