Everyday that we live - each of us have opportunities that come before us to help us grow.  It is what we do with those opportunities that determine to what extent we will be developed.  Do you embrace the challenges and with the fear of the LORD move forward?  Or do you worry and fear the barrier?  As I finished up reading Joshua this weekend, I saw a man who took the most of his opportunity to grow and be developed.  He had a tremendous job taking Israel into the Promised Land and establishing her boundaries.

I wonder how he felt at the moment he knew what his task was going to be?  I wonder if he ever worried or feared the job before him.  Joshua stayed true to God’s leading.  Joshua ends with this challenge to the people of Israel,

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15, New International Version).

I suspect Joshua’s fear of the LORD far out-weighed the fear of the task before him.  Joshua lived with a proper perspective of his life and his service to the LORD.

If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go . . . both to prison and to death” ( Luke 22:33  ). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.  (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, April 26).

What is the barrier in your life? 

Whatever the barrier hold fast to the truth you have gained from God.  Fear the LORD way more than the barrier.  Keep your eyes on Jesus – pray without ceasing and allow His Spirit to fully develop you to be the person you are created to be.

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:13, The Message).

For two days in a row I have been awakened about 40 minutes prior to the alarm.  Yesterday I thought I needed to get up, pray, and read the Bible but I didn’t.  Today, I did.  This morning I was reading in Joshua 6.  After reading verse 2 I thought I had read all I needed to read, “Look sharp now.  I’ve already given you Jericho…” 

I walk with so little faith way too often.  I am one to allow the circumstances of the moment to rob me of the faith God would rather me walk in.  This morning was a great moment for the Holy Spirit to bring encouragement into my life.  I sense that I’m on the brink of a major breakthrough.  I have no idea what this means and am reluctant to even discuss it here.  But I do anyway…  I am ready to move on in life and conquer new territory. 

The words “Strong and Courageous” are words that are repeatedly spoken to Joshua.  He is on the brink of taking new steps in his life by conquering a new territory.  The people of Israel have just eaten for the first time something other than Manna and now getting ready to take Jericho. 

As Joshua approaches his first obstacle, God greets him with great encouragement, “Look sharp now.  I’ve already given you Jericho…”

Remember – whatever the battle – the Lord is with you.  He has already given you – your Jericho.  Now move forward in obedience and be Strong and Courageous!

There’s no denying if you watch the news at all something is going on in our world today.  There’s a lot of talk about a Global Currency, Nato, The United Nations, and the need for a leader to bring us all together.  It does sound a bit like a movie that I have already seen… or even a chapter right out of the Bible.

While listening to the news this week about the G20 Summit I couldn’t help but be reminded of a bit of history recorded in Genesis 11:4 & 6,

Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower that reaches Heaven. Let’s make ourselves famous so we won’t be scattered here and there across the Earth… God took one look and said, “One people, one language; why, this is only a first step. No telling what they’ll come up with next — they’ll stop at nothing!”  (The Message).

Here we are with all of the problems we are facing as a Nation and at large a ”Global Community” and what do our “leaders” do?  They come together to try and solve the worlds problems.  Where is God in their leadership?  How much time has been spent by our leaders seeking the face of God rather than their own agendas?  I would like to hear that question in a news conference!

The life of Joshua (the understudy to Moses) is fascinating to me.  I just love Joshua.  I wish we knew more about the day to day life of Joshua as he learned from Moses.  I would like to know about the conversations they had together. 

So much is said about Isreal today.  Some Nations love and support while others hate and want to see them destroyed.  In the Bible, it is plain that God chose Israel as the nation from which He would reveal himself to the world.  When Jesus enters the world – God’s plan for redeeming the world now moves forward.  Why can’t our leaders see what has been set in motion from the beginning of time?  His plan for us all is to seek and worship Him.

The Bible says in Joshua 3:11,

…Think of it — the Master of the entire earth is crossing the Jordan as you watch.  (The Message).

“The Master of the entire earth…”  In the next chapter, we read that the people of Isreal crossed over the Jordan on dry land.  In the last verse of the chapter we read that all of the events of this chapter were done so that,

“…everybody on earth would recognize how strong GOD’s rescuing hand is and so that you would hold God in solemn reverence always.” (Joshua 4:24, The Message).

As the Nation’s leaders seek ways to bring peace (or their own agenda’s) to the table, lets not forget to seek God.  Let’s pray that our leaders eyes will be opened to the fact that the Master of the entire earth has a strong hand and desires that they hold Him in solemn reverence.