The Next Generation – Lessons from Joshua
The future of Bethany
Much has been said about how we as young people, form the next generation of the church. How the next 40 years will turn out, depends to some extent on us. This can be a very daunting thought! If we do not develop our faith and put it into practice, the future of Bethany could be bleak. Ministries which are now vibrant could lose their impact. The congregation could dwindle to a fraction of what it is today.
Strong hope for the future
In the face of these grim possibilities, what should our response be? How can we develop instead a strongsense of hope for Bethany’s future?
We have much to learn from Joshua. Joshua was given the task of leading the next generation of Israel into the Promised Land. This was no easy task. He would have to lead Israel in battle against many kings and fortified cities established in Canaan. He needed a special word of encouragement from the Lord as he looked towards the future.
Let us consider what God said to Joshua in Joshua 1. The lessons from Joshua 1 are extremely relevant to us, as we face the future of Bethany.
1. “Be strong…” (Josh 1:7)
We will need strength for life and ministry in the next 40 years. Life itself is not easy. There will be tasks that we need to complete. There will be challenges that we face. On top of this, we are called to serve God. Service requires effort and commitment. There will be times when we are busy and stretched, and if we want to serve God, we will need to sacrifice our leisure and go beyond ourselves.
In times like these, we need to seek strength from the Lord. We need to have a mindset of strength that will press on in the face of difficulties. “Be strong” is a command from God that we must obey as we seek to serve Him.
2. “Very courageous…” (Josh 1:7)
Besides strength, we will also need courage to live for God and serve Him. Living for God means choosing to spend time studying His Word and serving Him in church. It also means choosing to forsake activities that are sinful and that will draw us away from God. Due to the influence of the world, and peer pressure from others, these choices may not be easy, and we must possess the courage to make them.
When faced with such choices, it is tempting to give in to our own desire for an easy life – a life where we “go with the flow” and live as we please. Yet, we can find courage to take a stand, and choose to serve God, because He has promised to be with us wherever we go (Josh. 1:9). He will comfort and guide us as we seek to love Him, serve Him and walk with Him. May this promise stir up courage within us to live for the Lord!
3. “That you may observe to do according to all the law…” (Josh. 1:7)
Ultimately, the strength and courage that we need is to enable us to obey God’s Word. As God prepared Joshua to conquer the Promised Land in Joshua 1, He did not focus on the military or administrative matters first. Instead, He emphasized the importance of obedience to His Word. The use of the phrase “according to” shows us that we are to obey God very closely, and not do things based on our own thoughts and ideas.
We may not know for certain what the future holds for Bethany. But God’s instruction to us is certain. He gives us a clear instruction to obey His Word. To do so, we will need to study it and meditate on it constantly (Josh. 1:8). This may be challenging – yet, it is the only way, for it is God’s way. He has commanded, and we must obey.
As we look to the future of Bethany, let us focus on developing obedient hearts that are willing to serve Him. Let us pray for strength and courage. Let us trust that God will lead us and be with us wherever we go!