Spurgeon: May PM
* 05/11/PM
"Only be thou strong and very courageous."
--Joshua 1:7
Our God's tender love for His servants makes Him concerned
for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of
good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be
vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this
text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled
with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without
doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly
of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject
to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried
at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our
countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should
come into the king's court dressed in mourning: this is not the
law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are;
but still He would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and
put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to
rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit,
in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an
heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will
dishonour his God . Besides, what a bad example it is . This
disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which
soon spreads amongst the Lord's flock. One downcast believer
makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up
Satan will be too much for you . Let your spirit be joyful in
God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength,
and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you: but
cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to
a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness .
The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his
heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in
joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very
courageous."