God is not a White Man

"God is not a White Man"

Gungor

Big Shoes to Fill

Joshua 1:2-3

Verse 2

"Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them."

I read this the other day and instantly felt unworthy. Not the kind of unworthy where you beat yourself up about all those things about yourself that aren't perfect but unworthy in the sense that there are some tasks in life that are HUGE and that cause you to rely on a strength/power completely other than your own the whole time you engage it. That's what I felt.

Then God makes this sweet promise...

Verse 3

"I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.'"

It seems that often all we see is the task before us rather than combining that with the promises God has already given us. Verse 2 in isolation seems undoable until verse 2 rolls around and reminds us how Moses was operating all along. I wonder how many of us need the reminder daily that we have the opportunity to operate with the provision of God for our lives... doesn't mean it'll be easy but it does mean our steps are blessed when they're ordered by God!

If Verse 3 isn't enough to get Joshua fired up and ready, then check out Verse 5.

Verse 5

"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you."

That is God saying "I got your back!" What would this mean for us if we believe God was "For us" like this? I'm not saying that God is saying to us what He said to Joshua in the same way that he said it to Joshua.... BUT check out what Jesus says to us in John 14:12...

Hard to Follow

There is a leadership saying in the book, IT, that says a leader can only lead people as far as they have gone themselves.

But there's one thing of this truth that we need to be careful of, especially when it comes to the way we communicate to inspire and motivate the people we're trying to lead.

A person walking ten miles ahead of you is a hard person to follow.

It's one thing to say you've been ten miles ahead and you're going to lead them to the destination. It's another thing to tell people that "I'm ten miles ahead, come find me." Leaders lead the way. Leaders should inspire people to raise their game by their life and what they say. Leaders can only take people as far as they have gone themselves. But they also have to live and communicate in such a way that the people following them believe it's possible to get to where they're going as well.

In your leadership, try to be an example that people can aspire to be like while still being a person that people can relate to. Then you'll be able to lead people to where you've been.

Bear Grylls' Faith