⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success^[a] wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7 ESV)

The Lord’s path for our lives is very straight. We are commanded to live a life by specific commandments that are too often taken as only suggestions. They are not.

God commands Joshua to not turn to the right or the left, so that he might have good success. Meaning, that he should not depart in any way from the commandments God had laid down. Moses had already brought down the Ten Commandments but the Jewish people were living by Old Testament law. Christ came not to abolish these laws but to fulfill them. Christ teachings in the New Testament set forth very clear ways we are to live our lives, but foremost among them is loving others and dedication to God.

Does this mean that like Joshua we need to be strong and very courageous? Yes, it does. Living out our faith life may not make it easy. In fact, it probably will make it harder. But the rewards Christ offer are well worth the cost.