FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:13; Exodus 24:13; 33:11; Numbers 13:25-33; 14:1-9; 27:18-23; 32:12; Deuteronomy 3:28; 31:3, 7, 14, 23; 34:9; Joshua 1:1-18; 3:1-9; 24:1-29; Matthew 6:25, 33, 34

As a young man, Joshua stayed close to Moses and did the work of a servant. He thereby developed his heart for God, giving himself wholly to Him and becoming fearless. He grew to be a man of God who was called to lead the children of Israel after the death of Moses. The things he did were not conjured up out of his own imagination, but were done according to God’s will and calling. God moved and Joshua responded.

The same is true of us today. God saw our lives before we ever came to be called His children. He foreordained us to be unique individuals. We should be like Joshua, pressing into God to seek His will. God initiates every work that is truly good work, that produces fruit that remains. It is always God’s idea, not man’s. God works within us to will and do of His good pleasure.

Joshua was called to lead the children of Israel after the death of Moses and God promised to be with Joshua as He had been with Moses. Prior to this time, Joshua first developed a heart of service — he was both a minister and a servant, who wholly followed the Lord regardless of what anyone else was doing. In Numbers, we read how God told Moses to send a representative from each of the 12 tribes into the Promised Land to spy and check it out. Of the 12, only Joshua and Caleb had faith that God would deliver the land into their hands. Despite what the other 10 men were saying, Joshua was not afraid because he knew God was stronger than the giants in the land. When God told Moses to lay his hands on Joshua, it was not Moses’ idea, but God’s directive. The scriptures declare that Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. After the death of Moses, God began giving Joshua information so he could begin taking action. Among the first things God told Joshua was to be “strong and very courageous.” God’s promise to Joshua was as he kept his eyes upon God, God would prosper him wherever he went.

Joshua was a servant-leader who always brought the Word back to the hearts of God’s people. As God’s spokesman, Joshua reminded the people of how God had protected and delivered them in every way. Their proper response was to love, serve and fear God, not with lip-service, but from the heart.

At the end of his life, Joshua was still speaking the same Word to them. Joshua knew the people needed to make a choice of who they would serve — God or strange gods. He said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In Matthew 6, Jesus spoke to his disciples about who they would serve for no one can serve two masters. When we choose to serve God, He will provide for our every need. If He is blessed and we are pleasing in His sight, we will certainly be pleased with ourselves. Let us choose to do God’s will.