Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

May 11, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Only be thou strong and very courageous." — Joshua 1:7 · KJV

Our God's tender love for His servants makes Him care about the state of their inward feelings. He wants them to be of good courage. Some think it a small matter for a believer to be troubled with doubts and fears, but God does not think so. From this text it is plain that our Master does not want us tangled up in fears. He would have us free of worry, free of doubt, free of cowardice. He does not treat our unbelief as lightly as we do. When we are downcast we are suffering from a serious illness, not to be trifled with but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord does not love to see our faces sad. There was a law in Persia that no one should enter the king's court dressed in mourning; that is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning just as we are. Still He would have us put off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise, for there is plenty of reason to rejoice. A Christian ought to have a courageous spirit so that he may glorify the Lord by bearing trials heroically. If he is fearful and fainthearted, it dishonors his God. And think what a poor example it sets. This disease of doubt and discouragement is an epidemic that spreads quickly through the Lord's flock; one downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. What is more, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will get the better of you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Savior; the joy of the Lord will be your strength, and no enemy will make headway against you. Cowardice throws down the banner. Besides, work is light to a cheerful person, and success follows cheerfulness. The one who labors rejoicing in his God, believing with his whole heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope will reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous."