Fear Not

Knowledge in Action

Chapter 24

November 30

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

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Preface

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote, "Great love is born from great knowledge of the thing loved." In other words, when we find that we love something, we can trace the source of our love to what and how much we know about it.

Knowledge is key.

Jesus said that to those of us to whom "knowledge" has been given, more will be given, and we will have an abundance. But to those whom it's not been given, even what they have will be taken from them. (Matthew 13:11-12)

We've often heard it said, "Knowledge is power." Stan Lee, via Spiderman, said, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Love inspires us to work at getting to know more about what, or whom, we love. The more knowledge we gain, the more we'll be driven to gain further knowledge. In this way, knowledge begets knowledge. As a result, the more powerful we'll become; that is, the more authority we'll come to hold as an expert in the field, or about the person. This authority produces opportunity to take on greater responsibilities, usually of the work, or employment, variety.

Retracing our steps back along the above process evolution--knowledge, to love, to abundance, to power, to responsibility--returning to the first step of "knowledge," we realize that it's 'knowledge in action' that's the difference maker. It's having the courage to act.

Wisdom is best defined as "knowledge in action." We're asked by James, Jesus's brother, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?" Wisdom, like faith, "by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:14,17)

The context of today's verse, along with this Preface, points to the importance of developing a strong work ethic, the building blocks for which include: knowledge, faith, love, wisdom and action. Put these ingredients in us, stir them up, and fear runs away. We become lights of strength and courage in and to the world, God being with us everywhere we go.

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When reading today's verse, it's like hearing a frustrated parent telling a reluctant teenager, "How many times do I have to tell you? Clean your room!" God has to continually contend with His children choosing to put their blind trust in and service to their feelings of 'fear,' and the excuses it generates, over their faith in and service to 'Him,' and His unfailing word. ("For no word from God will ever fail," Luke 1:37)

In the Hebrew, as previously covered more extensively in Chapter 22, God's call for us to "be strong" is translated from the word 'hazaq,' which also means to 'be urgent.' And to be "courageous" comes from 'amas,' which translates into 'be alert'; specifically, in our thinking, in walking, and, during thinking, walking, to 'make speed.'

Together, this would mean that, when there's a job to be done, no matter how big or seemingly impossible, we only think and step forward with a conscious sense of urgency, making haste, to get the job done.

It's a difference in attitude. We all know of workers with a strong work ethic and drive. They're the first to show up at the job site or office, the last to leave. They not only satisfy the responsibilities for which they were hired, but go over and beyond what's been asked of them, helping get work done in other areas too. They manage and invest their time well, completing more work in less time than most others.