18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.
Numbers 27
Imagine being Joshua.
The great and mighty Moses, the man who talks to God, is dying. And you, little you, are supposed to take his place?!
You have a personal call upon your life. Your call is different than my call. But it's yours. And how dare any of us say, "I can't do that," when ordinary little guys like Joshua have to follow legends like Moses.
Now, we're not through with the Exodus yet. (We have one more full book, Deuteronomy.) Nevertheless, it's a good day to change our focus and look forward. It's a good day to ask: How will an ordinary person like Joshua (or you or me) move forward, even across the Jordan and into the Promised Land?
What you need to know from the outset is that the first step on the journey to success is to "just do it." Joshua took up the mantle ... and got a whole book of the Bible named after him in the process! Here's the story from Joshua 1 ...
· 1 ... The Lord said to Joshua ... If God calls, he'll equip. Now, it's rare that humans get to hear an audible voice like Moses and Joshua did, but God will give you what you need, just as he gave Joshua what he needed.
· 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River ... "One season has ended," the Lord was saying, "Don't live in the past. Move forward."
· 2 “get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give ... to the Israelites. Trust that as you move forward, God is active. Indeed, God says, 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised ...
· 5 No one will be able to stand against you ... Do you really believe that God is bigger than any worldly foe?
· 5 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Do you trust that God is alive and active? That if he acted before, he will act again? Do you trust that the promises are for you?
· 6 Be strong and courageous,because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. You have been given a task. You have. You are called to lead. Maybe it's only your little family that you're called to lead, but it's your sacred job. Be strong in it. Be confident and courageous. Why? Because, verse 5, God is leading! He is powerful and victorious. He will never leave nor forsake you.
· 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. The key to success is obedience. It is doing things God's way rather than your own.
· 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Being rooted in the Word is part of this obedience and success too.
· 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” When we follow those steps, we don't need to be afraid! God is with us!
· 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’” Now is your time. Today is your choice. "Go and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you." You life is that earthly Promised Land for you. Take possession of this life in your life. It is yours!!
In Christ's Love,
a guy who's learned
that the secret to leading
isn't skills and techniques,
it's saying yes and trusting God
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