Sermons by the Monday Club Joshua 1:1-9 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister… 1. Every man who is doing anything worth working at is some one's successor, and in time must be succeeded by some one. Alas for the man who succeeds only to a place to occupy, and not to a work to do! Joshua was successor to a grand man in wonderful work. 2. Every man's work is a continuation. "The workmen die, but the work goes on." 3. Every man's work is his own. It differs from that of him who went before, and of him who will come after. Moses had been trained in Pharaoh's court and among Jethro's flock; Joshua in the brickyards of Egypt and in the army of Israel. Each had been fitted for the work he was to do. And every man's work is shaped by that of his predecessor. I. GOD GIVES MEN DEFINITE WORK TO DO. It is important that you know your vocation. God has called you to His likeness and His service; to be as Christ was in the world, with His mind in you and His work upon your hands; to manifest the Father to men, and to lead men to the Father. It is your definite work, your one great aim as Christians, as God's children, whether you accept it or not — your only worthy aim. II. A DEFINITE WORK DEMANDS AN EQUALLY DEFINITE LAW. If the work be given, the law for its prosecution must be given also from the same source. God has been good to His people in perpetuating for them the written Word, enlarged and modified for their changing conditions. The object-lessons, which were needed in the childhood of the race, gave way to the precepts which might better guide its youth; and these in turn yielded to the statement of the great principles of all right feeling and conduct, with the declaration of which the canon is closed, and which need no addition, because they are adaptable to every variety of condition and culture. III. A DIVINE HELPER. When the Lord gives a man a work to do which is beyond his power, He always promises the needed aid. "Go over this Jordan, and divide this land among My people," says the Lord; but God says also, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." But, beside the promise of a Divine Helper, Joshua had both the vision of His person and the experience of His aid. We, too, may listen, and hear the promise coupled with the command. We also may look up and see, not in vision, but in the mirror of His Word, the Captain of our salvation, the Lord of war and righteousness, armed for our defence, at hand for our deliverance. No life is worth the living unless it sets before itself a work worthy to be done. No life tan do a worthy work save as it recognises the Divine law, and avails itself of the Divine Helper. With these three outward conditions of his success, there needed one quality on Joshua's part to make it sure, and that was — IV. A BRAVE HEART. But the courage came from his confidence in the Divine mission, the Divine law, and the Divine Helper. So, too, may it be for us all. If we know that the Lord our God is with us, we shall not be afraid nor dismayed; but we too shall be prospered, and shall have good success. (Sermons by the Monday Club.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, |
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