Here is a one question, fill-in-the-blank quiz:
The Lord instructs to us be strong and courageous to: ____________.
My first thought was:
A) to do spiritual battle: to be the warrior in slaying the Goliaths thwarting God’s chosen and putting us in a spiritual standstill on the battlefield; or take the Canaan Land by conquering the various strongholds by force.
My next option was:
B) to courageously launch out in new ministry vistas by faith, walking where I’ve not walked previously and doing what I’ve may have never done before.
Finally, it was
C) to deal with some personal flaws that need refining in my quest to be more like Jesus. Those little, yet besetting sins that bring distractions to my Christian walk.
While any of those thoughts could be potential answers in the question, the correct response on this quiz would be:
D) none of the above.
The answer is found in Joshua’s word to Israel:
“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7 ESV).
We are to be strong and courageous in doing the commands of God.
It is in doing His commands Goliaths are defeated, ministry is accomplished, and personal character refined.
This answer begs a follow-up question: Why must we be strong and courageous to do what the Lord asks us to do? After all, the Apostle John penned the Lord’s commands are not grievous (cf. 1 John 5:3).
We must be strong and courageous because His commands are contrary to so much our society holds dear; His commands are the counter culture to the daily culture in which we live. And regardless of our Christian maturity there can still be times we may not want to be ostracized or over-looked amongst peers or family. But we must be strong.
A key to staying strong is to remember the one thing that makes His commandments non-grievous, the one thing that makes them not just tolerable but delightful: Christ Jesus.
Those commands are not burdensome because we can do all things through Him. They are not grievous for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. However, notice that in both instances the emphasis is on Him! We can do all things because of Him and because the yoke is His, the burden is light.
As we keep Christ at the forefront of our lives, when He is the one that allows us to fill in the blank, we can say as did the Psalmist, “May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight” (Psalms 119:77 NASB).
May His law be our delight!
