Devotional: Stay Focused

Read Joshua 1:1-9

‘“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”’ (Josh. 1:7, NASB).

Many years ago I went with some friends to the golf course. I liked walking the course. I liked being with the fellows as we talked telling jokes and long tales. I decided that I liked the game, and I would go out with the guys again. I went out with the guys two or three more times, but I discovered that I wasn’t getting any better. After thinking about it for some time I realized that it was difficult for me to stay focused on the techniques of holding the golf club as I concentrated on the little white ball. The ability to focus is vital to our success.

In the story, God speaks to Joshua to give him instructions for taking possession of the Promised Land. Moses, the great liberator is dead. Moses has trained Joshua to take over the leadership of the people. He will lead the people as they enter the land and take possession of it. The people of the land are larger and stronger. They are better trained and experienced for war. They have superior war equipment. They have iron chariots; iron weapons e.g. spears, swords, shields, armor, and helmets. How will Joshua defeat these formidable foes with his rag tag army that fights with sticks and rocks? How can they defeat with their hand-to-hand combat those that are equipped with weapons of iron?

God tells Joshua and in kind He speaks to us. He tells us to stay focused on Him and His commandments. When God says “do not turn from it to the right or to the left,” this means that we should not allow anything or anyone around us to cause us to lose our

focus on God’s commandments. Like Joshua we live in a world in which we live among people that worship of other gods. Their philosophy and theology is much different than that we as Christians hold to. Although morals and rules of ethics are constantly changing, our God does not change. Our security is in the unchanging God that speaks an unchanging word. This is a guarantee that we will be successful in doing what God commands us to do.

Joshua, like Moses before him, obeys God. He keeps his focus on God and His commandments. Joshua takes possession of the Promised Land. When we are threatened and feel insufficient we must not allow our circumstances to cause us to lose focus on God.

Prayer: Father in heaven. I pray that your Spirit be in us to keep us focused on You and your commandments. Amen.