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Show forgiveness, and his hope. He surrounds us with other Christ followers to encourage and support us. He goes before us and with us, providing the strength needed for the journey ahead. MINISTRY MESSAGE Taking It Home Do you need strength right about now? While life is a strength sapper, the Strength Creator and Strength Giver says, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee” (Joshua 1:9). *& Expanding the Impact of Your Gifts of Encouragement May God biess you through the Strength for the Journey gift we share with you today. And may God bless you with strength as you journey with him through whatever you face right now and whatever challenges await you as you walk confidently into the future. Strength for the journey is yours because you are his. Introduction Imagine that you serve as vice president of a corporation that employs over two million people. One day, you receive news that the CEO has died suddenly and left you in charge. A crisis, to be sure. But now imagine that you don’t own a cell phone or a computer. Imagine that you don’t even have an office! The Scripture quotation is from the King James or Authorized Version of the Bible. HSTISDA aa « 2008 CTA, Inc. Permission to make photocopies or reproduce by any other mechanical or clectronic means is granted only to the original purchaser and is intended for use within a church or other Christian organization. but not for rcsalc. = wean 4 1-800-999-1874 CTAinc.com That’s exactly the situation an Old Testament figure named Joshua faced. Moses had died. The Lord had chosen Joshua to take over where Moses had left off. The nation of Israel stood at the brink of the Jordan River, ready to march into the Promised Land of Canaan. 1 Joshua had no degree in leadership. He couldn’t rely on history or precedent; there were no quarterly reports for reference. And he certainly didn’t have a helpful Blackberry. (He probably had never even eaten a blackberry!) But he did have the Lord God Almighty! Getting to the Heart Obviously, Joshua faced enormous challenges as he took on the role of leader of God’s people. God’s call took Joshua and his fellow travelers on the ride of their lives. We’re on that ride as well. We, too, struggle through a myriad of daily challenges on our way to the Promised Land of heaven. Our life’s journey takes us through deserts filled with difficult decisions. We face unexpected storms. The fog of conflict or fatigue limits our vision. We’ve never passed this way before; we may never pass this way again. We proceed with caution, down unfamiliar roads dotted with dangerous potholes. Simply contemplating the challenges of each day can wear us down. We can be so thankful we do not travel alone. God gifts us with strength for the journey. In fact, he himself is our strength as we travel throughout life. His unending presence is his gift to us—and what a gift! Joshua knew about that gift and its Giver. God had called Joshua to a huge task. He would lead an overwhelming number of people across rivers, through valleys, over mountains, and even beyond enemy lines to reach the Promised Land. The journey promised to be difficult, and that’s why God promised to lead his handpicked leader. The Lord kept that promise. Throughout his days, whatever the danger, the Lord gave Joshua the resources, the courage, and The Commander gave the command. Be strong! Be courageous! Don’t be terrified! Don’t be discouraged! And with the command came a promise and the strength to carry out the command: “The LORD thy God is with thee.” His was no ordinary traveling companion. This companion would map out the path; fill the tank with God strength; and provide encouragement, wisdom, and help mile after mile after mile. And the Lord fueled Joshua with other life-strengthening promises for the journey as well: (read Joshua i? 3,3), Think about the challenging situations into which you will walk this week. Would you like to take promises like these with you? You can! The Lord God Almighty’s promises do fill you, lead you, and strengthen you. God spoke these promises and a multitude of others in Scripture not only to Joshua, but to you and me as well. The Lord not only promises his perpetual presence, but he also vows to bring us through the challenges and difficulties we face. He presents to us a never-ending supply of strength for the journey. As we hold on to that promise today, we also find strength in looking back at God’s history of promise keeping—at the countless men, women, and children who have traveled before us, empowered and encouraged by God’s promises and presence. The Bible brims over with stories of the Lord’s faithfulness and compassion in the lives of person after person. We also see his hand of blessing as we look back at the story of our own lives. Consider past hardships. Do you find it easier to remember the heartache and the outcome—or the details of the journey? Is your memory of the journey vague perhaps because the Lord did lead the strength he needed. As Joshua faced the challenge, the Lord faced Joshua and said: you through it? The Lord reminds his people of his presence in Isaiah 43:2: (read Isaiah 43:2). Be strong and of a good courage; Though the pain of life continues in a world horribly damaged by sin, the Lord will carry us through it. He wraps us in his life, his be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: Jor the LORD thy God is with thee. Joshua 1:9 |
