On the path of life our walk is often be filled with unforeseen challenges.\u00a0 What lies ahead? How will you deal with the challenges that you will be facing?\u00a0The answer is in your mindset as you approach these challenges.\u00a0 How you take each step that leads to these unknowns will determine how you will handle those challenges.<\/p>\n
In the story of Joshua we are given God\u2019s model for success in this life. The precious truth<\/em> about our God is that He does not leave us to walk alone and feel blindly through this life. He leads us by the hand with His Word, and often carries us through the roughest waves of the storm. Through His Word He gives us confidence to take the next step of life.<\/p>\n Consider Joshua as he is ordained by God to be the leader following the beloved Moses.\u00a0 The task that lays before him was a monumental one.\u00a0 How could he lead this people who for the past 40 years had been wandering in the dessert because of unbelief<\/em>? \u00a0Aside from unbelief, these people could be defined as murmurers and complainers.\u00a0 This was an incredibly large and difficult group to lead into a land they had yet to call their own which was filled with many unknowns.\u00a0 How could Joshua take on this task and be successful<\/em>?<\/p>\n In the first chapter we find God speaking with Joshua. \u00a0God tells him\u00a0some things to remember<\/em> as well as specific ways to respond<\/em>. In this passage we see God\u2019s promises as bookends surrounding His commands.\u2014Remember & Respond!!<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember GOD\u2019S promise\u2014\u201cKnow this!\u201d<\/strong> \u00a0Here we begin by seeing what we are to remember<\/em>. Consider this promise, in verse 5, as a stabilizing truth. God says to Joshua,\u00a0\u201c\u2026as I<\/strong> was with Moses, so<\/em> I<\/strong> will be with thee: I<\/strong> will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s promise to Joshua is that He will ALWAYS be with him each step of the way. Joshua will NOT have to face any challenges alone. The same is true for us, \u201cLet your<\/em> conversation be<\/em> without covetousness; and be<\/em> content with such things as ye have: for He<\/strong> hath said, I<\/strong> will never leave thee, nor forsake thee\u201d (Hebrews 13:5).<\/span><\/p>\n This promise sets up what follows. In order to be successful in our response<\/em> we must remember<\/em> what God says.\u00a0Remember that success in our Christian lives is based upon our obedience to God and His Word.<\/em><\/p>\n Respond to GOD\u2019S Commands\u2014\u201cDo this!\u201d \u00a0<\/strong>Here we see what we are to respond<\/em> to.<\/p>\n Consider the 1st<\/sup><\/em> command: Be confident<\/span><\/em> because of God\u2019s Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cbe thou strong<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 7).\u00a0God is telling Joshua to \u201cbe strong<\/em>\u201d\u2014be confident<\/strong> because of God\u2019s Words of promise.\u00a0\u201cThy<\/strong> Word is<\/em> a lamp unto my feet, and a light [symbol of guidance<\/em>] unto my path [way of life<\/em>]\u201d \u00a0 (Psalm 119:105).\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s Word is given to provide light so as to be able to walk through this life successfully. His Word is the key to our faithfulness and usefulness.\u00a0\u201c\u2026He<\/strong> leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His<\/strong> name\u2019s sake\u201d (Psalm 23:3b).\u00a0<\/span>Be confident<\/strong> that the way our Shepherd leads us is the righteous way and the best way.\u00a0 He puts His name on it.\u00a0\u201cBeing confident of this very thing, that He<\/strong> which hath begun a good work in you will perform it<\/em> until the day of Jesus Christ<\/strong>:\u201d (Philippians 1:6).\u00a0<\/span>Be confident<\/strong> that He will complete the work that He starts in us.<\/p>\n Consider the 2nd<\/sup><\/em> command: Be fearless<\/span><\/em> because of God\u2019s Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cbe thou very courageous<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 7).\u00a0Joshua\u2019s courage was to be in God\u2014he could be fearless<\/strong> through the unknowns before him because of what God had said to him\u2014\u201cI will be with thee<\/em>.\u201d<\/span> Remember<\/em> God\u2019s Word and respond <\/em>without fear.\u00a0\u201cFear thou not; for I<\/strong> am<\/em> with thee: be not dismayed; for I<\/strong> am<\/em> thy God<\/strong>: I<\/strong> will strengthen thee; yea, I<\/strong> will help thee; yea, I <\/strong>will uphold thee with the right hand of My<\/strong> righteousness\u201d (Isaiah 41:10).<\/span><\/p>\n Consider the 3rd<\/sup><\/em> command: Be obedient<\/span><\/em> to the Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cobserve to do according to all the Law<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 7).\u00a0Joshua\u2019s ability to obey was directly related to his confidence<\/em> in the truth.\u00a0God commanded Joshua to \u201cobserve<\/em>\u201d or take special care to obey ALL the commandments. Take special care that you show, by your actions, that you hold the commandments of God in high esteem for they are invaluable.\u00a0When we remember<\/em>\u00a0that God has our best interests in mind it will change how we respond<\/em> to His commandments. Our best is ultimately God\u2019s glory.<\/p>\n Just as God commands Joshua, He also commands us to be obedient<\/strong> to everything in His Word.\u00a0\u201cBut be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.\u00a0 For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:\u00a0 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.\u00a0\u00a0 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein,<\/em> he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.\u201d (James 1:22-25)\u00a0<\/span>\u201cObserving to do<\/em>,\u201d what God says results in blessing\u2014hearing<\/em> and NOT doing<\/em>\u00a0results in self deception.<\/p>\n Consider the 4th<\/sup><\/em> command: Be guided<\/span><\/em> by the Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cturn not from it\u00a0to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 7).\u00a0This is a call to submission<\/em>. When we are confident in Who God is\u2014that He is sovereign and in full authority; when we are fully persuaded about His character and His desire for us is what is best for us\u2014then our submission<\/em> to Him will not be so difficult. We will then respond by being\u00a0guided<\/strong> by Him through His Word. \u00a0The result is \u201cprosperous<\/em>\u201d or wise living.<\/p>\n Consider the 5th<\/sup><\/em> command: Be vocal<\/span><\/em> about the Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cthis book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 8).\u00a0God commands Joshua that His Word should always be present in Joshua\u2019s conversation.\u00a0 He should always be speaking about\u00a0God and His Word.\u00a0When you are confident<\/em> in Who God is and what He has done for you\u00a0this shouldn\u2019t be very difficult. When you remember<\/em> the \u201cmercies of God<\/em>\u201d (Romans 12:1) you\u00a0will be vocal in response<\/em> about the greatness of your God.<\/p>\n Consider the 6th<\/sup><\/em> command: Be daily<\/span><\/em> in the Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cthou shalt meditate therein day and night<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 8).\u00a0God wants Joshua to daily meditate<\/strong> upon\u00a0 His Word. To meditate is the same process as worrying where you are constantly looking at something from every possible angle. The difference is the content of what you are focusing on. Meditating upon God\u2019s Word is a great help as it brings peace <\/em>and quietness<\/em> where worrying about our circumstances bring only noise<\/em>\u00a0and unrest<\/em>\u00a0into our lives. The Bible further tells us,\u00a0\u201cLet the Word of Christ<\/strong> dwell in you richly [abundantly<\/em>] in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord<\/strong>.\u201d (Colossians 3:16)<\/span><\/p>\n Remember GOD\u2019S promise\u2014\u201cKnow this!\u201d<\/strong> Here again we see what we are to remember<\/em>. This is the other bookend surrounding God\u2019s commands.<\/p>\n Consider the next<\/em> promise: Know success<\/span><\/em> as promised in the Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cthen thou shalt have good success<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 8).\u00a0This is clearly NOT\u00a0the definition of worldly success. We can chase the world\u2019s success but as Solomon says it\u2019s like \u201cchasing the wind<\/em>\u201d (Ecclesiastes 5:16) as it is a sure waste of time.\u00a0The God who \u201ccannot lie<\/em>\u201d (Titus 1:2)<\/span> promises \u00a0that handling His Word His way leads to success\u2014remember<\/em> and respond!<\/em><\/p>\n Consider this final<\/em> promise: Know encouragement<\/span><\/em> from the Word<\/strong>\u2014\u201cfor the LORD thy God is with thee<\/em>\u201d<\/span> (v. 9).\u00a0Notice that the Lord ends with the promise He began with\u2014\u201cI will be with you!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Look at WHO\u00a0is commanding Joshua.\u00a0 As God speaks to him He is saying \u201cremember<\/em> WHO AM I?\u00a0 What have I done?\u00a0 AM I worthy to be obeyed?\u00a0 Do My words ring hollow because My past has been contrary to what I AM commanding you now? \u00a0AM I not the great I AM? AM I not the One who parted the Red Sea?\u00a0 AM I not the One who gave you water to drink from a rock in the desert? Have I ever done anything to prove to you that I am unfaithful or that I cannot be trusted?\u201d\u00a0Consider these words as questions to you.<\/p>\n The most important questions to ask are\u00a0\u201cWho are you Lord?\u201d and\u00a0\u201cWhat do you want me to do?\u201d\u00a0And so to each of us\u00a0I say, \u201cREMEMBER and RESPOND!\u00a0Remember<\/em> WHO your God is and what He has done for you.\u201d In turn \u201crespond<\/em>\u00a0with fearless obedience being confident in HIM, knowing<\/em>\u00a0that what God promises, HE is sure to bring it to pass.\u201d<\/p>\n