Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Joshua 1:1-9

Yesterday we ended by noticing the importance of the presence of the LORD to motivate and empower us to walk in obedience to His Word and His will. Today, in Joshua 1, that takes centre-stage.

Our passage is filled with instruction related directly to our focus on putting the Word of God into practice in our daily lives. Joshua was instructed by the LORD Himself to obey His law in every respect, not to deviate from His will to the right or to the left, and to do everything the Lord commanded. To enable Joshua to live out His faith in this way, the LORD instructed him to constantly speak about the law of God to others, and to meditate on it day and night in his own heart. We might think of all of this as the First Movement of putting our faith into practice. It’s the “going deeper” movement by which we drill into the Word of God through reading, studying and reflecting on it; and by which we drill the Word of God into us, by discussing it with others and meditating on it in the silence of our hearts.

The Second Movement is the matter of putting it into practice in our daily lives. For this, God makes Joshua (and, by implication, us) the most beautiful promise in v.9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’” Please notice that little word, “for”. Putting God’s word into action will take courage (to step out in obedience even when it’s difficult and feels dangerous) and it will require strength (to keep going when the going gets tough). But we can be both courageous and strong because the Lord our God will be with us, wherever we go.

In situations of difficult or even dangerous obedience, it is less about who we are and more about Who is beside us and within us. And dear Christian, the Creator of the Universe is with you and within you by His Spirit! The Risen Saviour who conquered the grave is with you and within you by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit of Power and Glory is with you and within you. So, be assured, you will be able to experience what Paul testified to in 2 Timothy 4 (and with this our devotion will end today) …

¹⁶ At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.