8:00AM: Vanguard Scouting (LDS) Daily Devotions

Friday, 07/28: Brave

Scripture

Joshua 1:7 – “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

Thought for the Day

The book of Joshua opens with the commissioning of Joshua as Moses’ successor to lead the Hebrew people into the Promised Land. A striking feature is the admonition to “be strong and courageous,” appearing three times in the first nine verses of the chapter. Joshua was no stranger to bravery. He was chosen by Moses as one of the 12 spies sent to Canaan. Ten spies returned freaked out and afraid to recommend a raid to take the land. Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies to urge the people to go for it. Moses tabs Joshua as his successor the people agree to follow him over the Jordan River for conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua’s commissioning sets a standard for leadership, of courage and faithfulness, an example for the people and providing the direction for life in the Promised Land. The call to be strong and courageous would have had a strong ring of familiarity to Joshua. He had heard it before in Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites. When he hears it this time it comes with a promise from God to be with him. God is the force behind strength and courage: the force behind genuine bravery.

Bravery is not foolish arrogance. It starts with fear, but fear is overcome. Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III overcame all fear and demonstrated astonishing bravery in a 2009 forced water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 after both engines were disabled by a bird strike. All 155 people aboard survived. It is called “The Miracle on the Hudson.” Biblical courage is the bravery produced by the goodness of God. Bravery motivated by human abilities and greed is not honorable. It is important to remember divinely motivated bravery does not come most often at critical moments of life or death, but in the day-to-day choices we make about how we will live our lives and what values we will serve. Will you be brave enough to be perhaps the only one to say, no, when “everyone” is doing what you know in your heart to be wrong? Will you be brave enough to befriend the awkward kid being bullied by a popular kid? A Scout is brave. He or she has thought these questions through before they ever come up. They know the right answers and remember God’s promise to always be with the brave.

Questions for Discussion

• How do you define bravery? Have you ever given thought to the idea that God is behind honorable acts of bravery?
• Little acts of bravery take place every day. When was the last time you did something that you think was brave? Why did you do it?

Prayer

God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and all the brave people in the Bible, I give thanks and am grateful to know that when I face tough challenges, your promise is to be with me to inspire bravery in the face of adversity. Help me to honor You by choosing Biblical bravery in all the choices I make. A Scout is brave. Amen.