TDW 11-14-08 Be Bold and Shine

By: Eddie L. Long
(Be Bold and Shine)

I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Joshua 1:5–6

Judgment for America is inevitable. Things are occurring that could seriously affect the whole nation. More people could die than ever before because of deadly diseases and questionable actions buried under mountains of bureaucratic cover-up and political gamesmanship.

What is the church doing during all this? We are whimpering in the dark and worrying about the future when we should be at the head of the procession, leading the nation into the kingdom of light. We are supposed to be bringing kingdom principles to institutions, systems, and procedures that are indefensibly wrong. We are supposed to be the city of God, set on a hill, with a word from heaven in the midst of darkness.

We have no right to whine about how bad things are unless we are in the middle of the mess working around the clock to establish the kingdom. Jesus commanded (He did not suggest) that we go into all the world and preach the gospel of the kingdom. This does not mean that we should send a token number of missionaries into harm’s way, and it definitely does not authorize us to build a fort in our backyard and hide out from the big, bad world. It is a summons for all who call themselves Christians to take Christ the King and His kingdom to the world.

It is time for the church to rise up and usher in the kingdom. We must take to heart God’s word to Joshua just before he crossed the river of no return and possessed the land of promise: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous” (Josh. 1:5–7 nkjv).


Heavenly Father, the task is great, but You are more than enough for me. If You will stand with Me as You stood with Moses, then I cannot fail. Guide my steps and grant me the courage to take the kingdom to the very gates of hell in Jesus’ name, amen.