Gò0dNews for Everyone
Be Strong And Courageous E THE PEOPLE…when we hear those words, we begin to think about the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America! We know that the Constitution is an important part of our lives, ordained by our forefathers as guidelines and statutes for our future.
Moses, the Servant of God, had led the children of Israel through the wilderness and to the Jordan river with the Promised Land in sight. In the Book of Joshua chapter 1, God said to Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.” God then gave Joshua instructions and guidelines for their future. In verses 7-9, He told Joshua, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be
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strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” I believe those instructions apply to us in this day we are living in. In order to be prosperous and successful while serving God, there are guidelines we must follow. Of course, we know that the children of Israel were not always obedient and began to worship other idols. They had to be reminded numerous times how God had delivered them and how they had been brought out of bondage. When Israel sinned, they had to bow down and cry out to the Lord for forgiveness, and God always heard their plea. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” In Joshua 24, He gave the children of Israel a choice. He said, “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” …WE THE PEOPLE…the children of God, the followers of Christ, have a decision to make. Will we stand with the world, worship their idols and sinful ways, and serve other gods? Or will we be strong and very courageous, stand up, and say, “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD”? About The Author
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by James Whaley
Pastor James Whaley and his wife Wanda live in Dalton and have been ministering and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ for over 40 years.
