What Do I Have in Common With Joshua?

Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

Now what could I possibly glean from Joshua, my groggy head was wondering yesterday morning? Joshua was a leader, next in line after Moses, chosen of God to lead His people into the Promised Land. I'm no Joshua! Or am I? Aren't we all if we are followers of Christ?

As I began to read words that were spoken thousands of years ago to a man we can only picture in our imaginations, my highlighter began to work. Then the pencil came out to underscore words. Words like I will be with you always, be strong and of good courage, observe my laws, meditate on them day and night, that you may prosper, and success, stood out.

I had a blog I'd been working on in increments over the weekend but this decidedly had to come first because it fell in line with what I'd already written, sort of as a prelude. So...Joshua. What in the world do I have in common with him, I had thought at first. Now I know.

God came through loud and clear in just the first nine paragraphs. Despite the fact I am not a man (!), I can be considered a leader. As a follower of Christ, God teaches us that He will be with us always, especially  He will never leave us nor forsake us. We find this in His Word, if we choose to look there. That message is for all who seek it. It's there for all who claim Christ as Lord and Savior. If we follow His commands, are obedient to His Word, listen to Him speak or even whisper through His Spirit or Word, we can be strong and courageous...warriors...if we trust the Lord and not ourselves in all things. The Word is our shield (Ephesians  6:16).

The LORD told Joshua in the first nine paragraphs of Chapter 1 to be strong and courageous three times. Once He even emphasized very courageous. He told Joshua that if He meditated day and night on the law that Moses commanded the people he/they would prosper, have success. The law was the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. These first five books are the foundation of the Christian religion, whether the sacrifices of so many years ago are obsolete or not. There is a correlation. Today we can see Christ in those sacrifices. Today the Word as a whole is to be our guide, God's commands to all His people who hunger and thirst after Him, after Jesus, and are obedient to His Word.

We are told to meditate on the Word day and night. We are to observe to do according to all that is written in it. The purpose...to be prosperous and successful...not in the world's way but in the way of God. He has greater things to give us through His Word and through Him if we truly seek His Word.

So, the other point that came as I meditated on these words is tomorrow's blog! He was a warrior as well as leader. He fought many battles and with God's strength won...because He observed the law that God had set before Him. Joshua did as God asked him. As a follow of Christ it is my obligation to reach others with the Gospel, to lead others to the knowledge of Jesus, of His saving grace. Sometimes that takes being a warrior. Sometimes the battle is not won right away. It takes persistence.

The Word of God is powerful, we are told. It divides the soul and spirit when it is truly received. It changes people. It pierces our hearts and shows our sin that it may bring about transformation in our lives...certainly not all at once, but enough that we might be recognized as different...a good kind of different. We are then in a lifelong process of purification and thankfully God does not quit working in us. Transformation is how I view success, prosperity and fruitfulness as we see Him work more and more in our lives.

It's all about God and His Word. Meditate on it and be successful...and fruitful.

Psalm 1:1-2 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.