Scripture: Joshua 1:9
I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Thought for the Day: The LORD tells Joshua to be brave and strong. One author translates the Hebrew as resolute and resilient. Don’t you wish you had God constantly whispering those encouraging words in your ear? In our best moments, we can feel fairly confident in how we stand in the face of what might cause alarm or fear. Yet without encouragement, this confidence can waver quickly. This is where my theology holds tightly to the language of Paul when he declares the church to be the Body of Christ. Though many hear those words as if they are a cute metaphor, I claim them as the intended understanding of the Trinity. The Christ, or second person of the Trinity, took on flesh and became the one first century people called Jesus. This Christ didn’t disappear with the ascension, but is manifest through the power of the Holy Spirit in the church. Now please understand that the church remains very flawed and too often it reflects something other than the Christ we see in Jesus. With that said, there are times when the Body of Christ has been that voice whispering in the ears of those who would otherwise be discouraged. Let us not simply look outside ourselves for the voice of the Holy Trinity, but recognize how our collective life as the church is intended to be another incarnation of the Christ. We are not only to be courageous and resolute, but we are to speak words of strength and encouragement to one another.
Prayer: Filled with the Spirit, O God, there are moments when we offer a glimpse of Christ to the world. With humility and awe, let us recognize our Spirit filled community, the church, as one way in which the Christ remains present in the world. Amen.
THERE IS STILL TIME
