“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh.1:9 ESV)

Both a command with a promise

The above passage was what God said to Joshua right after Moses had died, and he was now the new leader responsible for leading the Hebrew children into the promise land after they had wandered forty years in the wilderness. It was a very scary assignment. The land was occupied by fierce enemies, including giants (Num. 13:32-33). God gave Joshua both a command and a promise. He was commanded to be strong, courageous, unafraid, and not discouraged. And he was promised that God would be with him wherever he went! Imagine how Joshua must have felt when God said this to him.

The above Bible passage has been used by many Christians but some point out that this was said to Joshua and not meant for us today. Yes, I believe it is certainly true that God did say this to Joshua. But, it’s also true that these things do very much apply to us, too. We’re told this many times elsewhere in the Bible.

Here are just a few examples.

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 21:34 ESV)

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” (Eph. 6:10)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!’” (Rom. 8:15 ESV)

Therefore

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Pet. 5:6-7)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 ESV)

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 NIV)

The verse at top tells you that you must have faith in order to please God. And that faith involves two things you must believe: First, believe that He exists, and second, believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Can you do those two things?

1. Believe that He exists

You can’t actually see God because He is Spirit (John 4:24) and is invisible. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18)

• But God reveals Himself to us in other ways.

By His Son, Jesus — “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, (Heb. 1:3).”; “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Col. 1:15); “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

• By what He has made — “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:20); “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)

• By His written Word, the Bible — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

  2. Believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jer. 17:10)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 33)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23-24)

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 7:12 ESV)

Random acts of kindness

Imagine what our world would be like if everyone in it practiced acts of kindness in every opportunity that came came along. If they showed kindness to strangers in need. If they told people around them to go first. If they extended a helping hand to someone who obviously needed it without expecting anything in return. If this happened, the world would undoubtably be a better place and people doing the kind acts would feel better, too.

In a study conducted by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, psychology professor at the University of California, students were assigned the task of doing five random acts of kindness per week for six weeks. At the end of the study, the students’ levels of happiness had increased by 41.66 percent! Being kind to others had a profoundly positive effect on their own level of happiness!

Therefore…

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Prov. 11:24-25 ESV)

The golden rule

“Do to others as you would have them to do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NIV)

Quote:

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” - Mark Twain

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8 ESV)

It usually surprises people when you speak about the nature of God. They never thought about it and didn’t realize He had one. But He does, and the Bible talks about His nature from cover to cover. We could write volumes and never completely cover the subject, it’s huge! For instance, He has a holy nature. He’s completely pure and righteous. And we could talk about those parts of His nature. But let’s start simply by looking at who He says He is, which tells us a lot about His nature. Let me explain.

God has a love nature!

You can understand God’s true nature when you realize He is love and you use the Bible’s love definition which is found in First Corinthians, chapter 13, which is also called the love chapter.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:4-8 NIV)

God demonstration His love nature by His actions

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

Therefore…

 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:7-12 ESV)

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16 NIV)

“Now the natural person does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,” (1 Cor. 2:14 NAB)

I heard about a young girl who had a pet pig. She had gotten it as a young piglet and it was very tiny and cute. She would give it baths. She added perfume. She put a ribbon around its neck and took it everywhere. As it grew it became much bigger and no longer cute. It had no manners. It ate everything very noisily with loud grunts. And when let outdoors, it wallowed in the dirt and mud. As hard as she tried she couldn’t stop it from acting like a pig. The problem was that It had a pig’s nature and just did what pigs naturally do. She was very unhappy that she couldn’t change him.

People are born with a sinful nature

Similar to the pet pig doing what’s natural to it, human beings do what’s natural to the sinful nature that they are born with. The verse at top calls this “the natural person” and everyone is born with this human condition and cannot understand spiritual things, which appear as  “foolishness” to them.

The apostle Paul says it this way

“I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.” (Rom. 7:19-20 NLT)

Jesus is the answer!

“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:24-25 NLT)

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Col. 3:10 NLT)

Therefore

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 ESV)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Rom. 8:1-2 NLT)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)

I’ve often heard people say, “Judge not! The Bible says that!” But, they are only half right. The Bible doesn’t tell us not to judge, because you have to make judgements, you just want them to be good judgements. In life you must discern and judge what is truth.

Be careful how you judge

We’re taught in the Bible to be careful when we judge others, to be kind, be truthful, and be very accurate, and without anger and selfish motives. We also shouldn’t judge others if we’re doing the same things. And we’re told to be careful how we judge others because God will use that as a measuring stick right back to us.  

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (Rom. 2:1-3)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:1-2)

Be a good and wise judge

Be careful, be discerning, and be wise, before you judge.

·      Be a fruit inspector

 “You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?.” (Matt. 7:16 ESV)

·      Don’t judge by appearances alone, get all the facts

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24 ESV)

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season...” (2 Tim. 4:2 NKJV)

A few years ago I received a phone call from someone who said, “Hi Mike, this is Robbie, a childhood friend from our old neighborhood.”

I didn’t remember him

He went on to describe a few things he had done with me and my brother and I finally remembered him as the little kid who used to come over to our house to play along with some other neighborhood children. He was younger than the rest of us and just blended in.

He said he was contacting me after all these years to thank me for being kind to him when he had needed it the most. He said he had been a lonely kid, that I had often included him in what we were doing, and that it had meant a lot to him.

In our conversation there had been no mention of God being in his life and that bothered me. When I brought the subject up, he seemed genuinely puzzled, but respectful.

I thought of him several times over the next few days

I lived about twelve hours drive away but felt an urgent prompting to visit him. On the way, I prayed that God would prepare his heart, that I would have the right words to say, and that he would hear and receive them positively.

 He greeted me warmly

 I put out my hand and said, “I have some wonderful news to share with you.” And he said, “I want to hear all about it!”

I told him how Jesus had changed my life and how He could receive Him, too (John 1:12). He listened and said, “I’m glad you came! It’s exactly what I’ve needed to hear and I want to receive Jesus right now!” So we prayed together and he instantly became born again (John 3:1-21). I stayed for a couple of days and he enthusiastically received everything I shared with him from the Bible. As I drove home, my heart was filled with joy as I reflected on how God had led and blessed every step of the way with Robbie.

Sometime later I called to see how he was doing and his wife answered the phone. She told me that Robbie had died suddenly of a heart attack.

I was sad to hear about Robbie, but happy to know that he had his personal Savior, Jesus, waiting for him in Heaven when he died! I was also glad I had taken the time to go see him when I had first felt the urgent prompting to do so. It reminded me of the importance of taking immediate action when God brings someone to your mind (Phil. 1:3-5). It could be eternally critical.

“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” (Eph. 5:16 NLT)

And when you do speak with someone

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6 ESV)

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”  (Rev. 2:10)

Secret Christian meeting

Many years ago, while a young youth director, I wanted to illustrate to our group of teenagers what persecution is like in many places in the world. So, one evening, I took them to a small unlighted barn out in the countryside for a “secret Christian meeting”. We pretended to be persecuted Christians in a communist country meeting secretly to avoid those who would arrest us. To add realism, I had the kids sneak into the building a few at a time, in the dark, and very quietly, without talking. Once inside, we quietly read the Bible in the dark, with only a tiny reading light.Towards the end of our meeting, some “police” burst in and arrested us (of course, I had arranged this). After being interrogated and released, we returned to our normal meeting place to discuss the experience. Many said they were very glad we actually lived in a free country where we could openly meet and share our faith without being arrested. 

Persecution continues

It’s been about 50 years since we had that mock meeting. Those teenagers are now grandparents. The world is older, but people are still being persecuted around the world. And it has gotten worse here in America.

Jesus warned us

“And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13)

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12)

“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20)

Therefore, rejoice and be glad

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12)

Nothing will separate us!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Rom. 8:35)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37)

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)

In interviews and debates I’ve heard atheists proclaim, “Jesus never said he was God!” It always amazes me to hear people who don’t study the Bible say this confidently and passionately, especially since what they say is biblically not true. Jesus did say He is God many times and in many ways! In the above verse, for instance, he clearly said, “I and the Father are one.”

To His disciples He declared…

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Jesus proved it in many ways

Jesus applied the names and attributes of God to Himself. Jesus made it clear that He was God incarnate, proving it by His words, by His miracles, and finally by His resurrection from the dead.

Jesus also claimed to be God when He said, “Very truly I tell you, . . . before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8.58).

The Bible says Jesus is God!

The Gospel of John begins with a statement of Jesus’ deity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)

In John 1:14, John identifies the Word: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John is affirming that the Word (Jesus) is God, and He left heaven to come to earth in the form of a man to live with men and display the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is both God and Savior

In Titus 2:13, the Apostle Paul said he eagerly awaited “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” and he encouraged others to do the same.

Therefore

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Heb. 1:3)