Joshua 23:1-3 (NKJV) Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age. You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has fought for you.
Have you ever wondered how many of us will be able to testify to God’s goodness, like Joshua, when we are about to leave this earth? Will you, like Joshua, attribute all your successes to God? Joshua knew His calling. Do you know your calling?
Sadly, many Christians won’t be able to testify to God’s goodness like Joshua did in the passage above because God was never part of their decision-making process, nor are they living out what God has called them to do. Instead, they have their own plans, tell God about them, and expect Him to bless them. However, it doesn’t work that way! Jesus is the Lord of our lives, so we should consult Him and follow His plans for us. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. The world will always try to lure us away from Him and deter us from walking in His calling. Many people are bitter, angry, and depressed at the end of their lives because their lives have been all about them and not about God. They blame God for their fleshly decisions, made independently of Him.
As Christians, we should seek to please God by living for Him because Jesus saved us by His blood! His work of atonement gave us right standing with God. Therefore, we want to make our lives count for the Lord by fulfilling the calling God has given us. We should live a consecrated life, which means living in accordance with God’s will and consecrating ourselves to godliness. We want to be confident in what we do, firmly rooted in the Word, and walk in faith towards what God has called us to do.
Joshua was a man who walked in God’s will for his life. Here we see a man of God who has completed his race and fulfilled what the Lord has called him to do. He was old and nearing the end. It is a wonderful testimony from a great leader who shared how God had been faithful to him and his people. He finished his life well!
Joshua gave glory to God for all the conquests of the land’s inhabitants. He was humble despite all the great exploits he had accomplished for the Lord and the people of Israel. He wasn’t egotistical because he knew these accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without God’s faithfulness.
Sermon Series: Resolution for 2026
见证神的信实
约书亚记23:1–3 耶和华使以色列人安静，不与四围的一切仇敌争战，已经多日。约书亚年纪老迈，就把以色列众人的长老、族长、审判官并官长都召了来，对他们说：“我年纪已经老迈。耶和华你们的神因你们的缘故向那些国所行的一切事，你们亲眼看见了，因那为你们争战的是耶和华你们的神。
你是否曾想过，当我们即将离开这个世界时，有多少人能像约书亚一样，见证神的良善与信实？你是否也能像他一样，将一切的成就与成功都归荣耀给神？约书亚清楚自己的呼召，那么你呢？你是否知道神对你生命的呼召？
遗憾的是，许多基督徒无法像约书亚在这段经文中那样见证神的良善，因为神从未真正参与他们的人生决策，他们也没有活出神所呼召他们要走的道路。相反，他们往往先有自己的计划，再把这些计划告诉神，期待神为其祝福。然而，事情并不是这样运作的！既然耶稣是我们生命的主，我们就当寻求祂、咨询祂，并跟随祂为我们所定的计划。因为祂的道路高过我们的道路，祂的意念高过我们的意念。这个世界总是试图引诱我们远离神，使我们偏离祂的呼召。许多人在生命的末了充满苦毒、愤怒和抑郁，因为他们的一生都围绕着自己，而不是神；他们甚至将因体贴肉体、独立于神之外所作的决定所带来的后果，归咎于神。
作为基督徒，我们当以讨神喜悦为人生目标，为祂而活，因为耶稣用祂的宝血拯救了我们！祂的救赎之工使我们在神面前得称为义。因此，我们渴望为主而活，使生命有永恒的价值，去完成神赐给我们的呼召。我们应当过分别为圣的生活，也就是按着神的旨意而活，将自己献上，追求敬虔。我们要在所行的一切事上满有信心，牢牢扎根于神的话语中，凭信心行走在神所呼召我们要走的道路上。
约书亚是一位行在神旨意中的人。在这里，我们看到一位完成赛程、成就神托付之使命的神人。他年事已高，生命即将走到尽头，却留下了极其美好的见证。这是一位伟大领袖的生命写照——他见证了神在他和以色列百姓身上的信实。他善终其生，跑尽了当跑的路。
约书亚将征服迦南地的一切荣耀都归给神。尽管他为主和以色列百姓成就了许多伟大的事工，他依然保持谦卑，因为他深知，若非神的信实，这一切都不可能成就
讲道系列：迈向2026：立定心志，跟随主