"One Cool Customer"

 "Be strong and courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do to all according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:6-9

I don't know about you but for me; in my mind, the word courage means 'stepping up and getting it done no matter what.' In verse 2 God speaks to Joshua and tells him that Moses is dead and that it is now the time for him to step up and to lead the people across the Jordan; to divide the inheritance that He swore to their fathers. He is telling Joshua its time to step up and get it done. To stay focused on His Word, His promise.

He said, " Be strong and courageous THAT you may observe to do." If we are strong and courageous it means seeing and doing His Word in our lives. With that comes being prosperous and having good success because He is with us. Being strong and courageous means stepping up and doing all that He says to do.

We choose to be strong and courageous every time we look to His Word instead of looking to the left or to the right. We choose to be strong and courageous every time we look to His Word and trust Him to bring His Word to pass in our lives instead of being afraid and dismayed.

In his message this past Sunday my pastor called Peter "One cool customer" as he made the observation from Acts 12:6 that Peter was asleep, chained between two guards. Herod had just killed James and because it pleased the people and he had Peter arrested and delivered to four squads of soldiers. It was the night before he planned to bring Peter before the people and presumably do the same to Peter. Peter wasn't looking to the left or right trying to find a way out. He wasn't busy being afraid or dismayed, worrying and stressing about what would happen the next day. He was asleep trusting God to be with him no matter what.

The thing is you and I have the same opportunity to be 'Cool Customers.' He doesn't play favorites. Your name doesn't have to be Joshua or Peter before He prospers your way with good success. We just need enough strength and courage to meditate on His Word enough THAT we observe to do it! It is then that we trust Him to be with us wherever we go. It is then that we understand being strong and courageous simply means stepping up or rather, stepping into His plan.