CityAlight - Grace

Evening

"Only be thou strong and very courageous."
Joshua 1:7

Our God's tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king's court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord's flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you; but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous."

The Osprey is still my favorite bird to photograph and film. Their abilities never stop blowing my mind, and this one? Absolutely incredible. From the high-speed, feather-perfect dive, to the insane precision of snatching a needlefish right off the surface. Even with that slippery, lively cargo, it lifts off like it’s nothing. No one else around. Just me, the bird, and a reminder that nature doesn’t stop performing. Glad I’m not a fish!

~Mark Smith Photography

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.

1 Peter 2:21

You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:23-25

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

~Jesus (Matthew 18:10)

When many of His disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"

But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?

Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him.)

And He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."

After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"

Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil."

He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray Him.

John 6:60-71

It Is the Spirit That Gives Life | Desiring God
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/it-is-the-spirit-that-gives-life

You Have the Words of Eternal Life | Desiring God
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/you-have-the-words-of-eternal-life