Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Courage”
Hello friends. I want to personally welcome all of you to our third leadership education session.
This week we are going to be looking at the important leadership principle of courage and risk taking. We’ll look at God’s promises to us as believers and what it means to be both Christian men and women who take risks and who live with courage in our world today.
So, what is courage? As I understand it, courage is finding strength in the face of something that might be frightening, causes pain or grief. We are all faced with situations every day that force us to be courageous. As a Christian, courage is the willingness to set fear aside and say or do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost. Courage involves taking a risk and it is always produced by faith. As Christians, we are called to be courageous for our faith.
Throughout the Bible, we read stories of men and women that displayed tremendous courage, taking risks in obedience to God. Through each one of these stories, whether it is the story of Moses, David, Ester, Daniel, the Apostle Paul and many more, we see God’s promises displayed and in most of these stories we are given a guide as to where this courage came from.
In today’s lesson, I would like to spend some time in the book of Joshua. To give you some context to the scripture we will read, Joshua has just become the new leader of the Israelites, following the death of Moses. He is told that he will be leading the Israelites into the land that God had promised them. In this passage, God is speaking to Joshua, encouraging him before the conquest of the Promised Land. God is repeatedly providing Joshua words of comfort and encouragement to be strong and courageous.
Joshua 1: 5-9, says “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have 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 success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Why do you think God repeatedly asked Joshua to be strong and courageous? You need to remember, Joshua and the Israelites were not warriors, but they were nomadic shepherds. For Israel to go up against the opposition of the inhabitants of that land and then take the land that God had promised them, it was going to take great courage and faith that God would honor His promise to them. In this text, I want to point out three things that God gave Joshua that can serve as a guide for each of us to live a life of courage.
First, God reminds Joshua that He is faithful to keep His promises. In verses 5 and 6, God tells Joshua that He will be with him and that He will not fail him. God had promised this land to the Israelites and there was no opposition that would keep the Israelites from obtaining this land. God is the same today, as He was in the days of Joshua. He is still faithful to keep the promises that He has given us through His word.
Second, God reminds Joshua the importance of meditating on His Word. In verses 7 and 8, God instructs Joshua to stay focused and to NOT ‘turn’ from the Word of God. He asks him to ‘meditate on it day and night, so that (he) you may be careful to do’ all that is written in it. God is asking Joshua to be transformed by His Word, instead of being conformed to the world. In the book of Romans it says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2). When our mind is transformed by the Word of God, our heart longs for the things that God longs for. It’s when we focus on the things of God and the desires of His heart, that our confidence grows, and we become more courageous to do those things God has called us to.
Third, God promises to be personally present with Joshua. God lets Joshua know that just as He was with Moses, He will be with Joshua as well. God doesn’t tell Joshua to go do this on his own, but NO, God tells Joshua that He will be with him every step of the way. As Christians, we have God’s Holy Spirit living within us. In the same way God was with Joshua as the Israelites were taking the land promised to them, God’s Holy Spirit is within us everyday to help us face situations that challenge us to take risks and step into courage.
As I reflect on this story from the Book of Joshua, I think the points God was speaking to Joshua then are just as applicable to our lives today. Life is full of challenges and as believers we are frequently faced with situations that force us to take risks or step out of our comfort zone for God. Courage involves taking risks and is always produced by faith. As Christians, our faith is rooted in the Word of God and what it teaches us about God the Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Just as God spoke to Joshua, he is speaking to each one of us through His Word. Just as the story of Joshua stated, God is (1) faithful to keep His promises, (2) He wants us to know Him more intimately through His Word and (3) He is always with us.
As you reflect on this lesson, sit quietly before the Lord and ask Him to reveal areas in your life where you need to exhibit more courage. This is a safe environment to share your thoughts, so please send your responses to the group.
God bless each you this week!
