When you are standing at the edge of victorious Christian living, there are many enemies in your way, enemies that want to keep you from living the abundant Christian life that can have through your relationship with Jesus.
Just like the nation of Israel who stood at the edge of the Jordan River about to cross over into the Promised Land, you never know all of the big and little battles that it will take to enjoy abundant life in Christ.
Jericho was a mighty fortified city filled with people who worshiped false gods. Their city stood on some of the ground that had been promised to God’s people, the children of Israel. God wanted to be glorified everywhere, and He wanted all people to enjoy His blessings. For that to happen, Jericho had to fall.
In our own lives, there are temptations, strongholds and trials that seek to keep us from victorious Christian living. One of the ways we overcome these challenges is by holding onto God’s promises.
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea. 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
The Lord speaks. The Lord spoke to Moses and the Lord spoke to Joshua. The Lord speaks to us today. He can speak in miraculous ways if He wants, such as through dreams and visions. Consistently, God speaks to us by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, other believers and circumstances to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.
God speaks; are you listening? Read His Word daily, pray, gather with His people, and be aware of how He is speaking to you through life’s circumstances. And know that He always speaks in line with His Word, the Bible.
The Lord makes bold promises. The Lord had promised that He would lead them out of Egypt — and He did! He promised that they would cross the Red Sea — and they did! He protected them and provided for them during the decades of their journey through the wilderness. And now He was about to fulfill the promise of leading them into the Promised Land.
For us, the exodus from Egypt represents our salvation. Entering the Promised Land is equated to victorious Christian living. God promised to save us — and He has! And He promises to lead us in the paths to victorious Christian living.
The Lord keeps His Word. Just like He said to Joshua, so He says to us. He says, “I will be with you.” He says, “I will not leave you or forsake you.” He says, “I will show you the way.” He says, “I will fight your battles.” The Lord keeps His Word.
The Lord tells us how to respond. He encouraged Joshua and He encourages us to be strong and courageous. He knows there will be false gods vying for our attention. He knows there will be challenges to victorious Christian living. It will take strength and courage to live for Jesus. God’s way is always the best way. Be strong and courageous. As you hold onto God’s promises, the first way to respond is to be strong and courageous.
The second way to respond is to live according to God’s Word. God tells us that His Word should continually be in our thoughts, on our lips, and evidenced in our lives. Because God has been so faithful to fulfill His promises, let us commit to living according to His Word in every area of our life and then watch the blessings flow.
wow!