Go - Be - Do

School year - summer.
School year - summer.
School year - summer.

Growing up school started the Wednesday after Labor Day.
College commenced each September too.
Teaching third grade (my domain before "I do") began in September.
Campus ministry--our vocation, our joy, our love--ditto.
Then our sons arrived; the cycle repeated.

Ingrained--September is the new year, more so than January.

So many opportunities, so many choices, The Rubber-band Ball bounces enticingly.

Joshua is also on the cusp of new; his daunting task of following in Moses' footsteps is reality. The beginning of his venture is recorded in Joshua 1:1-9.

My kitchen calendar turned again; September is now. I too am on the cusp of new. Th
e ancient words God saved in Joshua 1 instruct once more.

Go, be, do. Three little words communicating BIG direction appear 14 times in 9 verses.

Go (verses 2, 7, and 9) "into the land that I am giving..." "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you," (verse 3) God went before; God prepared; God planned; the new for Joshua is not new to God. I am reminded of Ephesians 2:10 ... " For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them." (Italics mine)

God, please cause me to go to only those places where you have gone before and prepared for me. Amen.

Be (verses 6, 7, and 9) "strong and courageous" "strong and very courageous" "being careful to do"--a great segue. Joshua needed to be strong as he led the people in their inheritance of the land God promised; and he needed to do it according to all the law.

Father, in whatever you have for me this fall, may it help me, like Joshua, to be strong and courageous. Amen.

Do (verses 7, 8, and 9) Joshua 1:8 (memorized years ago) gives a framework for the doing. "This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Each time do is commanded, it is connected to be.

Dear Jesus, as I consider your plans for me this fall, help me to bathe those plans (do-ings) in your word. Amen.

God reiterates his instruction to Joshua in two short sentences reinforcing be, do, go. The same commission in a new order.

Be something--be strong. God then emphasizes it from the opposite.
Do not be something--frightened or dismayed. God promises his presence.
Go--the Lord is with you ... and has gone before.

An outline worthy of my ponderings this September.

"but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:2