Joshua 1 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Only be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you, do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:7-8

It is difficult when leaders transition. That is especially so when a really good leader must be replaced. Take Moses, for instance. Joshua, the man always standing just to the right and slightly in the background of the photos of Moses & Aaron, was not at the helm. Would the people trust and follow Joshua? That question is really arbitrary to the greater question: will Joshua trust and follow the L_rd? In a results-oriented World, it is good to know that we serve a process-oriented G_d. That is to say that G_d is only concerned with our obedience. He (and He alone) provides the results of our labor. And that is freeing, isn’t it? We really need only to seek Him through His Word and pray & act according to it, knowing that is all He requires of us. It is definitely a point that King David wanted us to remember:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2

Following G_d’s Word, is a struggle contrary to our very natures: flesh (the old sin self) struggles against the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) within us. Therefore, it is not simple or purely intellectual faith, but demands strength & courage from us.

“For I know that that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells: for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good, I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills do to good. For I delight in the law according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:18-23

Yet, in midst of our struggle (to know and obey G_d’s Word) we have hope and assurance from His Word, that G_d’s victory is not only assured, but that the Holy Spirit which works within the believer will accomplish what He has called us to do!

“You are of G_d, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the World. They are in the world. Therefore they speak as of the World, and the World hears them. We are of G_d. He who knows G_d hears us; he who is not of G_d does not hear us. By this we know the Ruach (Spirit) of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:4-6

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins
Daily Devotional, Thursday, July 17, 2014