Text
Joshua 1:7-8
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Reflection
The first five books of the Bible known as the Pentateuch ends with the story of the death of Moses in Deuteronomy before he entered the Promised Land and the children of Israel mourning their great leader. However, the journey to occupy the Promised Land should go on despite the death of their leader. God’s promise does not end with the vision bearer or leader it should go on and God raises Joshua as Moses’ successor to carry on with the mission. In today’s text, God is speaking to Joshua encouraging to carry on with the journey that was started by Moses, but certain conditions should be matter for the mission to be successfully accomplished. First, Joshua should be strong and courageous. Why strong and Courageous? The mission was a difficult one with challenges. There were wars to be fought, quarrels to be solved, and hardships to be endured. Brethren, there are no achievements that come easily. One have to strong and courageous to be successful in whatever plan. We sometime think that when God promises us something we will get it easily, that is not the case, we have to endure trials and tribulations. Secondly, there were supposed to obey the laws of God that were handed down to them by Moses. The laws of God give us moral guidance and discipline to remain focused in God’s mission for us. Nothing can be achieved without discipline and this is the reality we face on daily basis in business or social life. As the Israelites were embarking on the mission to occupy the Promised Land, there were supposed to continue meditating on the word of God. This is because the mission was not theirs but God’s mission. Let the almighty God help us to continue meditating upon his word.
Prayer
Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
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