JOSHUA 1:1-9 – “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.  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. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””

THEME OF THE DAY: GOD’S PRESENCE AND AMAZING GRACE.   Ask a Christian how they became a Christian and the answer should be something like this . . .

“I am saved from my sins and reconciled to God by His grace alone, through Christ alone, revealed in the scriptures alone, by faith alone and for God’s glory alone.”

What we see in that definition is the process and product of a person becoming a Christian by a thorough understanding and application of the biblical truths of salvation. Here is the summary. We hear or read the scriptures; the Holy Spirit regenerates us granting us repentance and faith in Christ alone; we realize all this is by God’s grace and for His glory.  There we have it, the five Solas of the Reformation and all the elements in saving faith.

But remember, saving grace is also training and equipping grace to live the Christian life. The Apostle Paul tells us this in his personal letter to Titus . . .

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

As we move into today’s scripture, we will not see the grace of God explicitly stated, but its display is implied to Joshua and us repeatedly.  God’s grace appears in His promises to Joshua, and His Presence with Joshua.  And that is equally true for us. Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we have the God who promises us strengthening grace and His empowering presence throughout our lives.

Yes, Joshua had a huge challenge before him in leading God’s people into the promised land, but with God’s promises and presence, his situation was not unsurmountable.  Neither will our circumstances be because of God’s amazing grace.

PRAYER: Father, may I never forget with every command You give is also the grace to obey the command.

REFLECTION:  Obedience to God is the exercise of our wills while depending on God’s grace to obey.