Today’s reflection is about the great leader Joshua, who finished guiding the people of Israel to the land promised by God. Obviously it was a great challenge for the leader Joshua, since he faced a very rebellious people, who preferred slavery before the freedom that God offered them, and then a land from which flowed milk and honey.
Let’s read today’s verses, which are found in Joshua chapter 1, verses 1 through 9.
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1: 1-9
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Be strong and of a good courage
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The teaching we received of the Holy Scripture about things we must do in our relationship with God, brothers or others is this: strive to do your duties.
The exhortation of the apostle Paul is important especially about the salvation of our souls, as he said:
“Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
(Philippians 2:12.)
We know salvation comes from the Lord, but we must be diligent in it, not neglect our daily prayer, our everyday reading of the Bible, love and good works. In our effort to be pleasing to the Lord, we must not only take care of our outward behaviour but also of our inward intentions, with godly fear; not only thinking the Lord can be offended but also, in a way, showing that we are very interested in our salvation, with trembling. In our way of living, we do need to act responsibly, because the Lord God sees us and knows what we do—even (as Philippians 2:12 says) in the absence of the apostle Paul.
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1: 1-9
We must be faithful people in our lives, without being dismayed, although we are weak; trusting in the Lord, who goes with us wherever we go. The Lord God loves us and we are important people for God. We ought to be glad and grateful to Him.
May the Lord God lead us in our daily lives; yes, since He is our Father in heaven, who has already blessed us by the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and by the power of the Holy Spirit