Be Strong And Courageous

Joshua 1: 7-9

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is My command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

We need to be careful to obey all the instructions God has given to us, not leaving anything out. We are not to deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left--don't make them stricter or easier, more conservative or more liberal than what they actually say. That's how we will be able to be successful in everything we do in life. If we study this Book of Instruction continually, daily, and meditate on it day and night, thinking about it when we get up and go to bed, and in relation to everything we do all day, then we will be able to obey everything written in it, and only then will [we] prosper and succeed in all [we] do. 

God has given us His Manufacturer's Instructions, the how-to manual, to show us the way He has designed this Earth and this world on it, to operate properly. He doesn't want us to add any further complications or requirements to it, nor will He abide our leaving out any of it we don't think we agree to. We are not to change any part of it, to "interpret" it other than its normal, common meaning of the words. 

Then when we understand His love for us in providing everything we need in every area of life, and trust His wisdom and knowledge to have planned out everything for the progress of this world's societies in carrying out His Plan of the Ages; then we will be able to be strong and courageous, and not be afraid or discouraged, no matter what kind of turmoil happens to be roiling around us, trusting Him to be with us all the time and everywhere we go. 

Thank you, dear Father, for giving us Your Word, to teach us of Your love and care for us; for pouring out Your wrath due us on Christ Jesus on the Cross in our place, and for sealing us up into Your Kingdom forever by Your Holy Spirit. Your greatness and graciousness and mercy are unfathomable. There is no other in all Creation like You or even similar to You, as You are the Creator, and stand apart in Your holiness from all You have made.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!