29 APR 2024 Devotional

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)

Good morning to you, my friend. It is a gloomy day outside my door this morning, but the birds are singing and all of nature is alive and well as we await yet another rain shower. This is another day the LORD has made and I, too, will rejoice and be glad in it.

I love this conversation between Joshua and God. Moses has just died and Joshua, as his successor, is anointed to continue the mission of leading God's people into the Promised Land. God has allowed them to grieve the loss of their leader, but now it is time to move forward.

The same is true of us. We have left behind things - things that at one time served a purpose in our lives, things that meant a lot to us, maybe even things that we still miss. Yet it is time to move forward. God has many things to show us, to do for us, for US to do. And things that He has placed a desire in my heart to do for Him. But, much as Lot's wife turned back to look longingly at what they left behind and was turned into a pillar of salt, we can get stuck in this feeling of loss and become useless. Salt is a preservative. If we continue to look back we will preserve the past and never advance. In the book of Hebrews it tells that those who were named didn't pay attention to where they came from lest they turn and go back. We need that reminder from time to time. Don't look back.

I have the privilege of building on the foundation laid before me by those who have gone on. Each one left behind a foundation stone upon which the temple or superstructure of my ministry is built. Pastor Steve Tanner taught me to study the Word and know it. Pastor George Tomko taught me to be a man - a real man of God and for God, to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission. Pastor Harley Smith taught me to love people but hold the line of holiness high - to never soften or water down the gospel to people's present level. Pastor Amsler taught me to study the Word, but also study extra-biblical content - to always believe and know more than you could ever share from the pulpit. Pastor Chuck Clark taught me to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and love people into the Kingdom. Pastor Shane is now teaching me the importance of digging deep into the roots of the message of the Bible - to understand and know God on a solid foundation and love Him intimately. Pastor Jim Jacques is teaching me humility and integrity - to serve God with as much dedication as I once served the devil, and to rescue those Satan still has in his clutches as from the very fires of hell. God is, in essence, telling me to build upon these teachings and move forward to what He has called me to do.

As He was (and is) with the pastors I mentioned above, so He will be with me. If I stay strong in Him, study His Word and obey His commands (His will), I can be strong and of a good courage. If I follow Him, He will lead me into my Promised Land. The same is true with you. God has so many good things for you! All He asks is for you to seek Him, learn of Him, love Him, and obey Him. As easy as that sounds, our flesh and our minds will fight you. But be strong. Take every thought captive to the knowledge of Christ. Take His yoke upon you and be bound to Christ. Where He goes, you will go. What you see Him do, you do. What He tells you to say, say it with authority. This world is not our home (eternal resting place), we are just passing through. Go forth and conquer, mighty warrior!

Be blessed.