Joshua 10:25

Courage and strength.

I. THE DUTY TO BE BRAVE AND STRONG . This is often insisted on in the Book of Joshua ( e.g; Joshua 1:6 ). Christianity gives prominence to gentler graces of humility, mildness, and the forgiving spirit. But it does not therefore exonerate us from the more masculine duties ( 1 Corinthians 16:13 ; Ephesians 6:10 ).

(a) danger,

(b) responsibility,

(c) pain and loss,

(d) ridicule; and yet all of these may come in the way of our life's work.

II. THE CALL FOR THE EXERCISE OF THIS DUTY .

(a) in our own sinful hearts;

(b) in the evil of the world, and the troubles and temptations which arise from this;

(c) in the mystery of life.

He who is not brave with God's courage will sink before these terrors when once he realises their full proportions.

(a) like the Israelites, we are invited to take possession of an inheritance. The kingdom of heaven is not won without fighting ( 1 Corinthians 9:26 );

(b) like the Israelites, we have foes to resist in sin within and temptation without ( 1 Peter 5:8 , 1 Peter 5:9 );

(c) like the Israelites, we have territory to conquer for God. We have not to fight for our own inheritance and safety only or chiefly, but that we may win the world for Christ ( 1 Timothy 6:12 ; 2 Timothy 2:3 ).

III. THE SECRET OF COURAGE AND STRENGTH .