Everyone has faith in something. Faith, as defined by the Webster's New World College Dictionary, is allegiance to some person or thing; loyalty or anything believed. The question that we all have to ask ourselves is what things or persons do we believe in? This is one of the most important questions that we have to continually ask ourselves. It is important because the things that we believe in will influence our actions every day.
Do I believe my grandfather when he says that working hard at school is one of the most important things that I can do? Or, do I believe that guy sitting next to me in class who says, that you will never need to use that algebra in real life? There was a godly leader of the Jewish people who understood the importance of a belief system when he asked his whole nation to make a profession of what it was that they believed in. His name was Joshua. He said, " And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" Joshua 24:15. Joshua continued, " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Remember God's Promises!
Just like Joshua, you need to know what those around you think and what they believe in. What does that person that you get into a car with at school think about drinking and driving? What about the friend who you think you can share your secrets with, are they someone who gossips? And just like Joshua, we need to profess our own beliefs. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." If we make that decision and set our sites on following Jesus, He will bring us through the daily battles that we must fight and help us enter our own "promised land" which God has prepared for us.
God has a plan for your life and just like Joshua that plan begins with trusting in Him. Joshua wasn't always a great leader. There were twelve people chosen by Moses for a very scary mission (Numbers 13:1-33, & Numbers 14:1-9 ). God instructed Moses to pick twelve people to be spies to go into the land of Canaan and assess the danger level. One of these men was Joshua. Times were tough for the Hebrew people. They were facing war and being a spy has to be one of the most dangerous jobs there is. If any of these spies were caught, they would have been killed.
Page From A Bible Timeline
Ten of the twelve spies reported the near impossibility of entering the land of Canaan and defeating its' inhabitants. Ten of the spies thought they would loose a war with the Canaanites and be killed or taken into slavery. The Jewish people became frightened and discouraged. They spoke of deposing Moses and Aaron, God's leaders, and choosing a replacement for them. It even looked as if the leaders of the Jewish Community might be killed and civil unrest ensue. However, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua calmed the crowds. They reminded the people to have faith in the Lord. They reminded people that God had promised them a long time ago that they would someday live in a "land which flows with milk and honey." (Exodus 3:8)
Joshua was a man of faith who held on to God's promises as he went through the challenges of his life. When others around him were weak, he helped them to be strong. He did this by knowing the Word of God and having a strong belief (faith) in it. Without a strong faith in God some of the goals in our life may seem impossible, just like it did to the ten spies. However, when we stay focused on God's goals for our life, we will be victorious. Joshua's bravery, leadership and godliness was rewarded. He became the next anointed leader of the Jewish people. Whenever you are facing a challenge remember what God said to Joshua, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage." Joshua 1:5-6.
Ten of the twelve spies reported the near impossibility of entering the land of Canaan and defeating its' inhabitants. Ten of the spies thought they would loose a war with the Canaanites and be killed or taken into slavery. The Jewish people became frightened and discouraged. They spoke of deposing Moses and Aaron, God's leaders, and choosing a replacement for them. It even looked as if the leaders of the Jewish Community might be killed and civil unrest ensue. However, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua calmed the crowds. They reminded the people to have faith in the Lord. They reminded people that God had promised them a long time ago that they would someday live in a "land which flows with milk and honey." (Exodus 3:8)
Joshua was a man of faith who held on to God's promises as he went through the challenges of his life. When others around him were weak, he helped them to be strong. He did this by knowing the Word of God and having a strong belief (faith) in it. Without a strong faith in God some of the goals in our life may seem impossible, just like it did to the ten spies. However, when we stay focused on God's goals for our life, we will be victorious. Joshua's bravery, leadership and godliness was rewarded. He became the next anointed leader of the Jewish people. Whenever you are facing a challenge remember what God said to Joshua, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage." Joshua 1:5-6.
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