Joshua’s Leadership Lessons

I have been reading Joshua in my quiet time and thought I would share some interesting things I found to be leadership nuggets…some I dare say I could work on in my life.

1.  ”I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5)  We read the same promise in Hebrews 13:5 which is a paraphrase of the same principle.  Even though the Hebrews verse talks about money, the point is that God keeps his covenant to provide for His people.  How does that build your confidence that you serve a God that cares about your well-being?

2.  “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6).  Even though this message is for Joshua in its context, we can take comfort in knowing that God is our strength today.  He is our Refuge where we can get strength from in times of trouble.  Paul writes to the Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  It is by God’s strength that we can endure each with the things that need to get done for His glory.  Whose strength are you relying on?

3.  “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.”  (Joshua 1:7)  Mankind has a messed up definition of success and Christians have a skewed view of it as well.  God grants success to those who are doing His will.  Luke 9:23 writes about being a disciple you have to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me (Jesus).”  We are so selfish and greedy with things in our life, we get on God’s success program which includes following HIs will today.  Whose will are you following…..yours or God’s?

The final principle will be in Joshua 1:8:  “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”  We must be in God’s Word, reading, meditating, pondering how to do God’s will.  If we handle God’s Word with great care and ask for wisdom from the Lord, we would be more careful with our actions and attitudes in the “doing” aspect of our lives.  Does it align with God’s will?

-Ponderings from the Sleepy Disciple