In Joshua chapter 1 the phrase 'Be strong and courageous' is stated 3 times. Each time it is mentioned a reason follows for why Joshua needs to be strong and courageous.
Johsua 1;6 says "Be strong and courageous for to this people you shall divide as an inhertiance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them." Not only is Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land but one there he is to take the lead to divide up the land among the 12 tribes.
Having strength and courage is important for this task and acts as a good lesson for we pastors also. Dividing up the land entails getting involved with people, familes and friends. It involves stepping on people's toes and telling them 'no'. Joshua
's leadership is not to be merely from a distance but is to be involved with the nuts-and-bolts of the people God gave him to lead.
So we pastors need stregnth vand courage to deal with the people GOd has give us to shepherd. We need to get down in the trenches with them and minister to them where they are. We too need to 'divide the land', setting boundaries for what God's children are to do and what they are not to do.
After all, these people smell like sheep.
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