Central Lutheran Church

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

As the third son in my family, I grew up knowing my limitations, my weakness.  My two older (and much bigger) brothers made sure of that.  As a child I developed a picture of myself.  I believed that I was smaller and weaker than everyone around me.  This sense of weakness was reinforced because I was a year younger than everyone else in my school class.  Whether on the farm or on the playground, I thought of myself as little and weak.

Imagine my surprise when I grew up and realized that physically, I was strong enough and capable enough to do what needed to be done!  Imagine my even greater shock when I realized that in the world beyond the playground, strength of will and courage to face a daunting task without bending were much more important than physical strength.  Yet it took years for me to grow past the image of myself as small and weak, to take hold of both the physical strength and the strength of will that God had placed within me.

As followers of Jesus, it is critically important for us to know when we are weak and when we are strong.  When we are full of ourselves and our own capabilities, we are probably weakest.  When we are infatuated with our own strength, we are self-deceived.  But when we know our limitations and our weakness -- more important, when we know the strength of Jesus in the middle of our weakness -- then we have unlimited strength.  This message surfaces time and time again in the Bible.  One of the many passages that directs us to the strength of the Lord is found in Psalm 118:

The LORD is my strength and my song;
       he has become my salvation.
 Shouts of joy and victory
       resound in the tents of the righteous:
       "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
       the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
 I will not die but live,
       and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

We are called not to great acts of physical strength as a church; but we are called to surrender our wills to Jesus, to let his strength lead us to proclaim what he has done, to let his Spirit be our strength!

What does that mean for us at Central this summer and into the future?  This is what the Joshua Journey is all about.  As we read the story of Joshua and the people of Israel crossing into the Promised Land, we consider what it means for us to take hold of God’s promises.  For a preview of some of the specific directions this means for us as a congregation, join me in worship this Sunday!  Meantime, keep reading the Joshua devotions written by members of Central.  What a great gift that we can guide and encourage each other along this journey!

Pastor Jeff