Biblical Courage (Part 2)
Related Scripture
Joshua 1:1–9
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 1:2–3
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Proverbs 4:25–27
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.
Hebrews 10:36
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Dr. Jose Nacionales continues this message by bringing the listener back to Joshua chapter 1, where the Lord repeatedly commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous” as he prepares to lead God’s people into the Promised Land. With clarity and repetition, he emphasizes that God’s commands are straight—do not turn to the right or to the left—and that courage is tied to obedience, meditation on the Word, and steadfast endurance. Using the picture of a weighted toy that always rises back up when pushed down, Dr. Jose explains that true courage is “stick-to-itiveness”: the ability to stand back up no matter how many times pressure, discouragement, or opposition tries to put you down. He also reminds the church that words carry power—our words can either summon courage and strength in people or discourage and weaken them.
