Lessons from Joshua 1

One of my daily devotionals is called The Word for Today. It comes from an organisation named Vision Today. Every week its Chief Executive Officer, Phil Edwards (pictured), sends out an email. On 16^th October he wrote some words that each of us need to hear:

“Last week I highlighted the story of Joshua, and it clearly struck a chord with many of you, so here are some more practical lessons we can draw from his life:

Be present. In your workplace, community, and home. Be a light that reflects Jesus.

Be courageous. Stand firm in truth, even when it’s countercultural.

Be compassionate. Let your convictions be wrapped in grace and love.

Be prayerful. Intercede for our leaders, our nation, and those caught in conflict.

Like Joshua, we are called to be strong and courageous, even when the Gospel message may be unpopular or misunderstood. We don’t walk this path alone. God is with us. His Spirit empowers us. And together, we stand as a bold witness to the hope found in Christ”.

We can ask ourselves how we measure up. Are we present, courageous, compassionate and prayerful? We may score highly on our own self-assessment. We can even ask others to score us. That may be revealing.

Ideally, we can do as the Psalmist urges us, and ask God! The last 2 verses of Psalm 139 say:

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.

How do we now measure up? Jesus is the only true measure, but thanks be to God – for by the Spirit we become more like Jesus. 

So, pray to the Father, through the Spirit, in the name of Son, and ask God to make us present, courageous, compassionate and prayerful. 

With hope and joy,

Rev. Frank (Van Der Korput), Supply Minister