Be ye therefore very courageous...turn not aside therefrom to the right or to the left. ...Cleave unto the LORD your God. ...Take good heed, therefore, unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God (Josh. 23:6, 8, 11 KJV).
Joshua said, “I am going the way of all the earth.” He charged his people to do right, cleave to the Lord, love the Lord, and keep from the paths of the heathen nations. All this required courage on their part.
Israel faced an enemy, the Canaanites and their gods. Joshua charged them to be brave soldiers in this warfare.
We, too, have an enemy, an unseen foe, but just as real. The Christian warfare likewise calls for courage. We can only win as we cleave unto the Lord and love Him.
In this battle we can easily get turned aside. After Joshua's death the Israelites turned aside. They made concessions to the heathen. They lost their power to drive them out.
We, likewise, can lose our power when we allow the glitter and glamour of this world to entice us. If we kneel at the foot of the cross and confess our sins, we can regain our power.
God calls us to walk circumspectly. This means do not turn aside from the right path. He warns us to redeem the time because the days are evil. He encourages us to be wise concerning His will. He commands us, “Be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph. 5:18).
In this lies the secret of our power. He gives no other options. However, He will not force His way upon us. How can we be filled? Yield yourselves unto God and trust Him. This requires ceasing to depend upon ourselves and an utter dependence upon Him. Through Christ we can do anything God asks us to do. Without Him we can accomplish nothing for Him.
Are we living a circumspect life? Do we depend upon Christ or ourselves? Will I war courageously in the battle for Him?
Prayer: Oh Lord, strengthen me for this battle. Help me do right. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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