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"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be than dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
"Joshua 1:9
Devotional
(continued)
Difficult days are upon us in Zion. Let us learn that in such a time there is need for constant watchfulness and tremendous endeavor. In the battle for the Lord be strong and firm. "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." "For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."
But who is sufficient for these things? The soldier's path is not smooth nor free from perplexity. God referred Joshua to the teaching of the Law. By following it as a guide we too shall be sufficiently fitted for all things. In God's law there is wisdom and in the keeping of it there is assured success.
What a soul needs most in the hour of conflict and impending dangers is the assurance of the favor of God in all that is being done. This it confidently may hope for and have inasmuch as He is being obeyed and thus honored. God delights to honor them that honor Him.
Yet a temptation lurks in the way even of those who arc determined to be strong in the Lord's cause. It is the temptation to mix up their own counsels with the divine commands. We all need the curb of modesty. From God's commandments we must not detract nor to them add. Submit all to God. It is audacity to arrogate to ourselves rights which are not of His Word. From the highest to the lowest of God's servants, they arc all bound to obey God's rule.
There is no surer road to disaster than contempt of the Word of God. This may not be pronounced or expressed but may lie hidden in the breast. From this, in whatever form it may exist, let the true Christian pray to be delivered.
The divine favor is withheld from all arrogance and from counsels rashly adopted. Only by diligence in learning and fidelity in keeping the pure statutes of the Lord God of Hosts is prosperity and success certain.
When men allow themselves to be ruled by the Word of God they act in a way that dismays and confounds His enemies.
The Scriptures point us to a truer and greater Joshua-Christ the Savior. He has conquered sin and death, and for His own has acquired a Canaan in the heavenlies. Before entering into His triumphs and rest He bids you, 0 child of God, "Be Strong."
"Go, labor on: 'tis not for naught;
Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises:"what are men?"
"Courage, brother I do not stumble,
Though thy path be dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble:"
Trust in God, and do the right."
"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.
David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.
There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.
We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!
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