Be steadfast and courageous (Joshua 1:9)

Glory be to God!!

Be steadfast and courageous

 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9

 It is said by God to Joshua who is going to possess the land of Canaan which is said as the shadow of the eternity. In the journey of our life we who are going to inherit the heavenly Canaan our Lord Jesus Christ confirming us  saying " Iam with you always, even unto the end of the world" since He is with us unto the end of our life not being afraid neither dismayed but being strong and of a good courage we lead our christian life. But the hope of our christian life is we too will be resurrected since Jesus died, buried and resurrected. At the glorious appearing when Jesus appear in His glory we too will be resurrected and glorified and be seen with Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15:11-18 if Christ be not risen, then your faith is also vain. It reminds us even our Christian life is vain. Since Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept thereby we are sure that we too have a resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Therefore we too should live with our God or abide in God and have confidence at His appearance (1 John 2:28).

 In the gospel according to Mark sixteenth chapter we could see about the things happened during the days of resurrection of Christ Jesus. Jesus in His open ministry His twelve disciples, Mary Magdalene and certain women were with Him in the journey (Luke 8:1-3). Until His burial these men and women followed Jesus. But in the sixteenth chapter of Mark we could see it is to these women informed about the appearance of Jesus at first. The reason is though these men walked with Jesus and much laboured yet on that day they didn't seem to be ready to seek Jesus at the early morning. Though the glad tiding that Jesus will be resurrected was given to them they were not able to believe as enough thereby it was not profited to them (Hebrews 4:2). Sometimes they might be sleeping at the early hours. Though they were informed by Mary Magdalene and went to the sepulchre yet they returned back home simply without having any appearance of the angel neither Jesus (John 20:1-10).

 Spiritually when we think, today many are interested not only to teach about Jesus to the whole world and to work for Jesus but also to do wonderful works and miracles, they also have the gifts to prophecy and to cast out devils (Matthew 7:21-23). But they don't have the interest neither the thought to do the will of God and to receive the promise and be seen in His coming (Hebrews 10:36-37). Since they don't tarry for the coming of Jesus they are working iniquity and become those who are never known by Jesus. On the other hand, in Revelation 12:1-6 when we see about the women the church we can learn her in the group who waiteth ardently for the appearance of Jesus (Hebrews 9:28). It is therefore the disciples of Jesus, Peter and John were not able to see the state of resurrected Jesus though it was revealed by the angels and Jesus to those women even so our God will give the revelation to the church who waiteth for the appearance of the Lord.

 Therefore the zealous men though they much labour for Jesus yet they waiteth not for the resurrection of Jesus otherwise  the appearance of Jesus like the disciples. We could read till then the disciples knew not the scripture, that Jesus must rise again from the dead (John 20:9). But the church, the women followed Jesus and lived with Jesus and did well the ministry of Jesus (Matthew 27:55). They make their life unto God as sweet savour of Christ (2Corinthians  2:15). Let us be seen as the hopeful church who carry the spices which is prepared with their life, with the desire to go and see Jesus in the early resurrection morning (Luke 24:1). In this earthly life, our works in the Christian life or our ministry is not only important, along with that our life must be prepared and be ready to be taken up at the coming of the Lord. They that sleepest arise from the dead or who are subjective to second death, only those can wait for the Christ's light to shine upon them on the golden dawn (Ephesians 5:14).

 Again when we pay attention to the women the church many among them though having the hope of resurrection yet they were unable to say to others that they can see Jesus because of fear since they were amazed and trembled (Mark 16:8). It is the state of being unable to say loudly their hope as they were having the thought whether they are worthy to be taken up at His coming because of afraid and trembling and fearfulness. We need to think about this spiritually. We read though women are heirs together of the grace of life; yet they are weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7). Though they are those who received grace saying i am what i am by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10) we could see they are not spiritual but  carnal in their church life (1 Corinthians 3:1). They live with fear thinking as they cannot inherit the kingdom of God because of the weakness in the flesh having done many sinful works (Galatians 5:19-21). They fear and tremble whether they will be left behind when they hear the coming of the Lord. But Jesus came into the world to do that which cannot be done by the weakness through the flesh (Romans 8:3). Having known our weakness He says to us, " My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). In other way, Jesus wanted us to watch and pray for the grace since the Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Therefore let us not mind our weakness instead having desire and interest in our spirit, by the grace of God desiring to be taken up in the coming of the Lord Jesus and ought to pray for the grace having perfect hope which will be revealed unto us on that day (1 Peter 1:13). For the Spirit of God helpeth our infirmities and helping us to pray (Romans 8:26). Jesus wanted us to watch and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke21:36). When we see in the garden of Gethsemane though the disciples were strirred up to watch and pray yet they were found sleeping thereby when temptation came they ran away (Mark 14:40,50). Even in the early morning on the day of resurrection they were found sleeping. But Jesus who prayed more earnestly (Luke 22:44) with strong crying and tears prayed unto God thereby He was saved from the death and resurrected (Hebrews 5:7). Even if we too have a life of prayer then we can able to stand boldly with good courage without being feared and amazed at His appearance (1 John 2:28).

 When we again give heed to the gospel of Mark sixteenth chapter, we could see that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene among those women in that group (Mark 16:9). This is very important thing to our thoughts. We read in the word of God there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear (1 John 4:18). When we consider Mary she feared not the darkness, without even thinking she is alone, she went early morning lonely, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre seeking Jesus (John 20:1). In the song of songs 6:8-10 though it is said about all women we could able to think about the shulamite women as my dove, my undefiled is but one. She is His beloved being strong and of good courage (Song of Songs 6:3). She fear not the terror in the night and without being dismayed the oppositions on the way she went to seek her beloved (Song of songs 3:1-5). Even so Mary without thinking whether Jesus died, buried, whether it might be stinking as it is the third day she is going to the sepulchre seeking Jesus. Though it is the mortal body of Jesus even she cannot carry it yet because of the immeasurable love for her beloved she says she will take Him away (John 20:15). As the desire of Jesus she loved Jesus above all (John 21:15) therefore Jesus appeared  first unto Mary. Having God's commandments and keepeth them are those who love Him (John 14:21). They are the overcomers who keepeth His works as he commanded unto the end and will receive the power like Jesus (Revelation 2:26). They are those who get the victory and are taken up to the throne of God (Revelation 12:5). We could see the wife of the Lamb who receive the transformation of the body at His coming in Mary Magdalene (Revelation 19:7-8).

 In short, men having interest in works and living without hope in the resurrection which worketh iniquity are worthy for the hell will not be the chiefest ( Matthew 7:22) but the church the women who having the clear knowledge concerning the resurrection and His appearance will be the chiefest. Even among them there are two groups. One group is the bridal church who are worthy to be resurrected at the secret coming of the  Lord. Another group is the left behind church because of the weakness of the flesh fearing for their shortcomings and become lifeless have gone into spiritual sleep. The ten virgins who belonged to the second group slumbered and slept while the bridegroom tarried ( Matthew 25:1-5). Even we could see this group is again subdivided into two groups. Wise virgins and the foolish virgins. In Mark 16:9, Jesus appeared first unto Mary later unto others (Matthew 28:9). As such Lord who is coming again at the midnight gather them to the wedding banquet unto Him they that are ready ( Matthew 25:10). Another group were not known thereby Jesus cast them away and they are worthy for the hell ( Matthew 25:11-12,7:23). One group is separated for the eternal life and another for the eternal damnation ( Matthew 25:31-46). Therefore let us receive the clearness  about the resurrection without fearing and dismayed but being strong and good courage let us be those who are watchful in prayer. By our prayers our God will make us worthy to stand before Jesus ( Luke 21:36). Let us encourage ourselves to get sanctified by the God of peace since our God who called us is faithful, He will preserve us blameless unto the coming of the Lord, having such confidence let us prepare ourselves and wait for His appearing (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). For that let our Lord God help all of us.