Is courage a choice?

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day seven) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”–v 9.

“Bran thought about it. ‘Can a man be brave if he’s afraid?’ ‘That’s the only time a man can be brave’, his father told him.”–George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones)

We live in an age that portrays people as helpless.  Victims of our circumstances and feelings.  Unable to control our actions or choose a higher path.

God’s word paints a different picture.  Courage is a choice, one of many that can and must be made by those who believe.

God commanded Joshua to be courageous.  To focus his heart on the promises of God and not his fears.  To get up early and pray and find sufficient certainty for a day of strength. To exercise a self-discipline that did not allow his “heart to be troubled” (see John 14)

Our generation says that we are victims.  God says courage is a choice.

Rest

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day six)

The book of Joshua is a remarkable history, and it begins with a rousing introduction from God himself! The promise of presence and great success to Joshua, but most of all, the promise of rest to the Israelites in a land of their very own, indeed a kingdom. The Israelite people were no doubt desperate for rest and peace after forty years wondering in the desert and four hundred more as slaves in Egypt. And God would provide it to them, he would fight their battles, and lead them Joshua’s faithful leadership.

It is a picture of the Gospel. To the Church belong the promises of God made possible by the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. We are co-heirs with Jesus, and ours is not only the forgiveness of sin, but full restoration and rest in a new heaven and a new Earth. Aren’t you desperate for true rest (a life without sin)? I am. By God’s grace let’s continue to shake off the shackles of sin and press on in the hope of our future eternal rest as sons and daughters of God.

A Source of Strength and Courage

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day five)

Caught up with a recent college grad from our church this week. When they left for college they contacted me with an unusual request. “Can you give me 10 Bibles to hand out as I head off to college?” I remember thinking that this was an ambitious task for a soft-spoken and meek freshman headed to a new environment that may or may not be completely open to the Gospel and a biblical worldview. There was only one stipulation placed on this task. “I’m not gonna offer them, they have to ask me for one.” My first question was, “How will that happen?” I will never forget the response. “Because I will talk about the scripture, I will quote scripture, I will live according to its guidelines, and I will always have a Bible with me to show where my beliefs, convictions, and joy come from.”  All those bibles were handed out.

Was reminded of Joshua 1:7-8.

Now out of college, I asked this week if they were still handing out Bibles. With a big smile, they answered, “Yes!”

Be Strong

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day four)

His name was Amos…he was a good dog. He did not have a large kingdom, but he watched over our backyard with diligence. Early one morning, we were awakened by his barking…he had cornered a possum. He was content to just bark…until I arrived beside him. Emboldened by my presence, he rushed in for the fight.

Joshua and Israel were poised on the banks of the Jordan River. They were emboldened to move, on the command of the Lord. He promised to be with them and had already given them the land. He promised His presence! All they had to do was to be strong and courageous.

What has God promised to you? What has He already given to you if you will only follow His commands? “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(BTW: Amos won…with a little help.)

Build

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day three)

“Moses my servant is dead.” The question for Israel was this: How would they go on now? As gifted as Joshua was, no amount of passion, reason, talent, skill, principle, vision, or sense of history can bear the weight of the future without one crucial element: love. Moses made the point: Love arises only when a person places his heart, soul, mind, and strength at God’s disposal, and then radiates that character towards all others. Paul elaborated on that point: Without love, my skill set won’t matter in the long run. When a leadership era ends in a nation, in a movement, or in a family, these groups often disintegrate when they depend on vision alone, or principle alone, or passion alone. Without love, none of these traits will generate an eternal kind of life. Learn love, and build to last.

Continuity Amidst Change

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day two)

“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 success.” vs. 8

New leader, new land – if there were ever a time for some continuity for a nation, this would be it. The Israelites were now stepping foot into the promise, their dreams were coming true, but it all meant change. Even when things are going well change can be difficult. God knows this. Perhaps this is why in the span of ten verses he says be strong and courageous four different times. He also helps them see that amidst great change there was also the comforting assurance of his constancy. New leader, new land, same God, same Word. The promises that we are walking are simply the fulfillment of what he has assured us of all along. No matter the circumstance, God will remain true. Now is not the time to forget this.

New leader. Same God.

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day one)

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”–v 5.

Not alarming to God.  A new leader is appointed.  Life moves forward into a different chapter.  The Eternal One has seen it a thousand times.  But, sometimes, we haven’t.  It is unknown territory for us.  Anxiety producing.

God’s promise in this kind of transition is that He will be the SAME to the new leader as He was to the old.  Whether electing a President or calling a new Pastor, our reassurance is that God will be reliable help to the man who calls on His name.

CHANGE is unavoidable.  No one can freeze time, nor should we want to.  We do, however, hunger for CONTINUITY and find it in the ROCK of Ages.

Things change.  God doesn’t.  What He was to the old leader, He promises to be to the new.  Now all we need is leaders who trust Him!

 

He is going ahead of you.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 (day seven)

“Come and SEE. . .go quickly and TELL. . .’He is going ahead of you into Galilee.’ “–v 7

When the women arrived to announce the news of the resurrection, it had a very practical feel.  “Pack your bags, everyone.”  “This train is leaving the station.”  That’s what the disciples heard.

The angel did more than announce that Christ was alive.  He declared that Jesus was their leader again!  The days ahead would be as filled with victory and discovery as the previous days had been.  How exciting!

Still true!  Jesus is AS alive THIS morning as He was THAT morning.  We, in our expectation and joy, should be like the disciples on that fear-shattering Sunday morning. Say it to yourself.  Out loud.  “He is going ahead of me.”  “He knows the way.”  “If I go to the next place, He will meet me there.”   It is what risen Saviors do for people who obey them.

 

Disciples Making Disciples

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 (day six)

Have you ever made a disciple of Jesus? Jesus makes himself clear that we are to go and make disciples. It is not really a recommendation or a suggestion, it is a command. It is a command that rests on his authority as the resurrected Son of God. The very existence of His church today is evidence that the disciples obeyed this great commission. What if the hope of this nation (and every nation) is not the next elected president, but His church (that’s us at FBCSA) obeying this command today? The truth is you were elected over two thousand years ago to be a disciple who makes disciples.

Do you know how to do that? It’s probably time we all learn. I’m in, are you?

The Kindness of Jesus

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 (day five)

The women who went to the tomb were told, “do not fear”, and to “go and tell the His disciples” (Matthew 28:5, 7).   They left in obedience. Don’t let this fact be ignored. They showed great courage and trust to obey the commands of the angel.

Yet, Matthew says they had fear (28:8). Why the fear? I believe the answer is found in their encounter with the Risen Jesus as they made their way back to the disciples. He again repeated the words of the Angel (Do not be afraid). But in this exchange, he changes a word. He uses the word “brothers” instead of “disciples”. Why? Could it be that the women were worried about what this meant (judgment, punishment, shame, guilt) for the disciples? Jesus extends His kindness to the women and to the disciples by calming their fears and proclaiming a word of assurance and love. He calls them His brothers.

Anyone need to be reminded of His kindness today?