Who is the strongest person you know? Maybe someone who is very physically strong comes to mind. I’m thinking about the people who wake up at 4:00 AM, bike 8 miles, and then weightlift for an hour to start their day. Perhaps the person you are thinking of is not the strongest physically, but they are mentally and emotionally strong. There is another category of strength we do not always think about: spiritual strength. That spiritual strength is what all followers of Christ are called to pursue.
When it comes to someone in Scripture who was spiritually strong, we were reminded during the weekend message that Joshua is at the top of the list of examples for us to learn from. The book of Joshua picks up after Moses, the leader of the Israelites, had died. Because of Moses’ death, the Israelites needed a new leader. Enter Joshua. Joshua had been Moses’ assistant, so he got a first-hand look at what it was like to lead God’s people (verse 1). After Moses’ death, God told Joshua, “The time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I have given you” (verse 2). It was time for Joshua to step up and lead God’s people. As God gave this call, he told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people” (verse 6). Three more times in this chapter, God gave Joshua the same message: “Be strong and courageous.” Why did God repeat this call to be strong and courageous? As it has been said, “What gets repeated gets remembered,” and this call to be strong and courageous was critical for Joshua to remember. Leading the Israelites would not be easy. It would require much strength and courage as he took one step of faith after another. God’s call to Joshua in this passage of Scripture was a call to love Him with all his strength by courageously leading the Israelites, even amidst uncertainties and difficulties.
We were reminded during the weekend message that loving God with our strength means being fully devoted to God, the One who was fully devoted to rescuing us from sin and death, even when it meant sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to do just that. Will you follow Him with full devotion, letting nothing keep you from following and being committed to Him? He is worthy of every last drop of devotion that you give Him.
Loving God with all of our strength means being fully devoted to God, loving Him with every part of us. Who is someone you know who is spiritually strong? What is something you can learn from them and the example they have set? Based on what you can learn from that person's example, what is one step you can take this week to follow their example and love God with all of your strength? Commit to begin taking that step starting today.
“God, Your full devotion to rescue me from sin and death is nothing short of amazing. I worship You because…”
1After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea[a] in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
12 Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He told them, 13 “Remember what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you: ‘The Lord your God is giving you a place of rest. He has given you this land.’ 14 Your wives, children, and livestock may remain here in the land Moses assigned to you on the east side of the Jordan River. But your strong warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has given you rest, and until they, too, possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. Only then may you return and settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, assigned to you.”
16 They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. 17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and everything you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!”
