Strong and Courageous: A Sermon Based on Joshua Chapter 1

A Love Works Daily Sermon

A child had to walk each evening past a dark, spooky house. Some adult friends tried to give him courage. One handed him a good-luck charm to ward off the ghosts. Another installed a light at a particularly dark corner near the house. A third took a more spiritual approach, saying, "It's sinful to be afraid. Trust God and be brave!" It was good advice, but not much help. Then one friend said with compassion, "I know what it's like to be afraid. I'll walk with you past the house." And instantly the child's fears were gone.

This was what God did for Joshua. Joshua faced the task of leading a group of desert nomads against the trained armies of established kingdoms. That would be enough to make even the bravest man afraid.

The Israelites were concluding 40 years in the wilderness due to fear. What they saw as impossible kept them from doing what God had wanted. They could have entered the promised land years earlier, except for fear.

But now was the time and the place and God did more than give Joshua a battle plan or a pep talk; He reassured him, saying, "I will be with you wherever you go." Fear not.

Jesus said these very same words as he sent the eleven disciples out to all the nations. He did not say they would not be afraid. He said "I shall be with you always, even to the end of the world."

God does not promise He will not lead us into fearful situations. He may call us to serve Him in distant lands or God may ask us to stand up for him right here in this little town. In either case, we may be quite afraid. Sometimes the biggest fears are right at home. But just like Joshua, we can do it because God also has given us the solution for the fear: He has given us Himself.

In Christ we have strength for every weakness and the courage for every fear.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me"

Joshua Chapter 1 [From the NLT - New Living Translation]