Courage & Diligence 

Based on Joshua 22-24, Luke 3

Even back in Biblical times, there were many challenges when it came to serving The Lord. As much as we think the world may have been a simpler place, sin is still sin, and just because the temptations may have been different, the motive was always the same: the world wants you to serve self, but God's people need to step out with diligence & courage to serve Him alone!

"But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." Joshua 22:5.

Joshua told this above passage to the children of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh. As they did, we must take diligent heed to follow God's Word with our whole heart & soul! Not leaving anything "up for grabs" by the world. We can't withhold anything from God or make an altar to any other gods by serving self! These above-listed tribes DID listen to the words of Joshua, but accusations came from their brethren, the other tribes, because these 3 tribes built an altar...and their brethren thought it was in worship to idols...but it wasn't!

"And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to."
Joshua 22:10.

The 3 tribes assured the rest that they built the altar to serve God alone...and that's why we have to have diligence. Many around us will question our motives & our sincerity when it comes to serving God...even our own family at times! They will question how important it is to follow the WHOLE Bible. They will want to know that we are doing it out of a genuine love for God-so we have to do the courageous thing, step out in faith & assure them that our love for God and our desire to serve Him is REAL!

"Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day."
Joshua 23:4‭-‬8.

What I love about this above passage is that Joshua didn't tell the people to be courageous when he was talking about war...he told them to be courageous to follow God's Law! His Word! It sure does take boldness & courage, and if it did then, we know it sure does now! Again, sin has always been sin, but sin itself is becoming more diligent and courageous nowadays...standing up & standing out as if it were Truth...so we need to protect ourselves and our children by following The Word of The Lord!

"As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:4‭-‬6.

We need to be a little like John the Baptist! If persecution comes against us, we need to stand firm in the faith! We need to tell the Truth, no matter the cost! Joshua & John the Baptist were great examples of diligence & courage, and they spread it to so many others! It may take a lot to stand for God today, but He has a lot to stand for beyond this life! Get closer to Him today!