- Standing on the Edge
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After Moses died, Joshua was chosen to be the leader of Israel. Can you imagine what it would be like to lead a people with no country? These people had no sense of home and no sense of normalcy. They constantly wandered around in the desert. Joshua also had to fill the shoes of one of the great patriarchs of the people of Israel. This was no small task. I imagine that Joshua was anxious and nervous about stepping up into this role. But God had some instruction for Joshua.
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:5-9
Maybe you are in a place where God is asking you to step out and step up. We can learn from what God told Joshua. First, we see that if God is leading us somewhere He will go with us. He will not let us go alone. God also promises that if Joshua follows His commands He will help him succeed at following His will. God urges Joshua to drench his soul in the words of scripture. Speak the Bible and dwell on the truths contained in His word. God does not promise that we will be successful and prosperous in all of our ventures, but He does promise that if we obey Him and lean on His commands that we will be successful and prosperous in all of HIS ventures. This formula also gives us the blueprint to fail and be unsuccessful in life. If we ignore God’s word, if we follow our own selfish desires, and if we do not follow the Lord’s command we will ultimately have a life that is marked by failure.
Jesus is the greatest example of a follower. He put aside His will for the will of the father, words of scripture always flowed from His mouth, and He accomplished the mission that God laid in front of Him. Jesus was not successful by the “world’s” standards. He never owned a home, He never was promoted, He never had a lot of money in the bank. But Jesus succeeds in the most amazing accomplishment of history, the cross. So let’s follow this recipe for success, remember you are not alone God is with you, follow the commands of the Lord, drench your soul in His words, and you will prosper.
In Christ,
Pastor Phil