"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 the left, that you maybe successful wherever you go." Joshua 1:7 (NIV)
Sometimes God will ask us to do things we don't feel equipped to do, doesn't He? There may even be times we cry out, "Wait a minute Lord, I'm not ready for this." But you know He supplies us with everything we'll ever need when He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our lives, coupled with staying strong in His word.
I was thinking about what a wonderful privilege it is to be a part of God's family on my way to Decatur the other day. We're all on a mission given by God in life, or we should be. I imagine Joshua, at times, was shaking in his boots over some of the things he had to face, but he didn't waver because he had the Lord on his side. We have the same Almighty God guiding us today.
We also have each other to confide in and comfort one another. (Read 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, carefully especially verses 13-18.) If you've ever rode down through Atlanta GA. there's an area of road called "Spaghetti Junction,"where the road literally looks like a big pile of spaghetti. In this stretch of road lanes and exit ramps go every which way.
People driving this area better know where they're going. They need to be on a mission and stick to it. Failure to stay on track could lead you into bad areas, where it's possible to loose your life in an accident, or fall victim of a thug. I've met so many different brothers and sisters in life on the "spaghetti junction" roads of Christianity. It's so important to stay on God's path for your life. Deviations can be harmful, and even deadly. Though we have different callings our destination is the same -home with Christ in heaven.
What a blessing all of you have been that I've met on this journey. You've encouraged and loved me; my life has been so much richer because of you. You're part of God's church, also known as the body of Christ and I love you. Hopefully I've helped you as you've helped me. It was so good to be together. I thank God for you.
May we all be able to say like Paul when we approach our destination: "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
in the future is laid up for for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." Second Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
