Last Sunday, we had just watched the movie, Letters to God. The movie encourages us to make letters to God. Tyler wants us to make letters to God. Those letters are testimony of God’s grace. It is not intended to God but to those people who are going to read & hear it. If we love someone, we always share about that person to others. It is the same if we love God.
Matthew 6:21, ”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
It is effective to share about Him through our testimonies.
But there is something that hinders us. It is because we are afraid that we might commit mistake, we are afraid to be criticized.
We are also afraid to do because we are nervous.
Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “If you are afraid of failure, you will never grow, you’re a looser!”
All we need is to be strong and courageous. To trust in God. To have strong Faith.
(The book of Joshua is all about leadership. This is Joshua’s Commission.)
Verse 6: ”Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” This is the same exhortation of Moses to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:7. In here Joshua was commissioned to lead Israel to possess the land, God hand promised them. It is a promise! All they need to was to possess it but because Israel was afraid of the giants, God allowed them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
When Jesus came, God promised Eternal Life. So Jesus commissioned us to go to the ends of the world to proclaim the Good News. That is our Mission! We are called to perform. “To make Disciples”
I had received a text message from Pastor. It says, “Two great things from God: Great Commandment (Love God) and Great Commission (Make Disciples). If you are in loved with God you can’t hold but to make disciples.”
Are you in loved with God? Let us examine it as we continue if you really love God.
Verse 7: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commands” What are these commands that we need to obey? The word of God!
Ask yourself: Why do I obey Jesus’ commandments? Do I do it out of fear of punishment? Or do I do it for love that seeks opportunities of service? Do you really love God? I remember when I had a girlfriend, she said, “If you really love me, then you should respect my decision.”
Now, do you believe in the Bible as the Word of God from cover to cover? Are you reading it from cover to cover? How can you obey God’s commands if you’re not reading the Bible?
If you love someone or a thing, you will become interested about that person/thing. You keep on asking that person you love about his/her everything, the past, present (favorites, likes/don’t likes, e.t.c.) and the future (dreams/plans in life).
It is the same if we love God. We want to know more about Him. All things that we need to know is all written in the bible. You love yourself of course. The plan of God for you is all written in the bible. Aren’t you eager to know the purpose why you are here in this world?
John 14:24: “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
“…that you may be successful wherever you go.”
It increases you intelligence level! It is a book of all kinds. A collection of every book you can see in the library or bookstore. I remember my classmate; she was wondering why I am relaxed while the exam will start in few minutes, and another classmate said “Don’t you know that Herbert is a Walking Book?”
Verse 8: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”
Always (Continually)! Meditate on it day and night! In other words, Regularly! Speaking of love. If you love someone, you will always think of that person. You can’t even sleep.
I had received a text message, “Wonderful people are those who reflect their lives to God, their thoughts and words.” I felt I am wonderful. Everything I see and experience, I reflect it to the Bible. Sometimes, I found myself speaking God’s word to myself alone. Are you wonderful?
Then you will be prosperous and successful!
Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.”
If you meditate God’s Word day and night, you will become courageous because you are sure of what you are talking about. The Bible is our guidance in everything we do.
Verse 9: “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.”
God is omnipresent.
God promised to be with us forever and ever.
In one condition, you must be strong and courageous. “Have I not commanded you?” It is a command that we need to obey. Be strong and courageous!
It is sad to say that it is our weakness. We fail because of fear and discouragements. To be strong and courageous proves that we trust God.
Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
2 Corinthians 12:10:"...for when I am weak, then I am strong!“ “God hides great things in nothing, so if you feel you’re nothing, aren’t you excited to know what God hides from you?”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14,”Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” Do it with love. You can do anything and everything because of love. If we love God, we have to trust Him. That way we will become strong and courageous. God’s love is worth fighting for! This is what integrity is all about. “This is what I believe and this is what I want!
