Leaving Nothing Undone
Leaving Nothing Undone
Faithful in service. Courageous in battle. Determined to finish.
Scripture: Joshua 11:1–15; 2 Timothy 2
God gives us victories that leave no doubt about His power. Then there are battles through which He teaches us patience, obedience, and dependence upon Him.
Israel’s progression in warfare in Joshua offers a helpful picture of growth in the Christian life. Jericho reminds us that God can bring down obstacles we could never overcome on our own. Ai reminds us of the danger of self-confidence and the consequences of unaddressed sin. The Gibeonites' deception reminds us that appearances cannot replace seeking the Lord.
By Joshua 11, another coalition has gathered against Israel. Previous victories have not removed the need for present obedience. Joshua must keep trusting, keep fighting, and carry out God's commands.
The chapter testifies: "As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.” — Joshua 11:15. That statement challenges every believer. What has God shown us that we still have not done?
Be Faithful: Develop the Heart of a Servant, Soldier, and Steward
Before Joshua led Israel, he served Moses. Exodus 24:13 identifies him as Moses’ minister. His preparation for leadership included faithfully serving others.
We often desire greater opportunities while overlooking our present responsibilities. Yet faithfulness begins with the assignment already in our hands.
A servant acknowledges his master’s authority, accepts his master’s assignment, and seeks his master’s approval. Jesus Himself said: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45
Serving is part of every Christian's calling. Paul describes the minister as “the servant of the Lord” in 2 Timothy 2:24, and reminds believers in Colossians 3:24, “for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Joshua also had the heart of a soldier. He had fought against Amalek, entered Canaan as a spy, and eventually led Israel into the land. Each assignment required submission, courage, and dependence upon God. Paul tells Timothy: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” — 2 Timothy 2:3
A soldier expects discipline. A Christian cannot let personal comfort decide whether to obey God. Prayer, study, resisting temptation, and remaining faithful through disappointment all require endurance.
Joshua also demonstrated a steward's heart. He carried out the responsibility entrusted to him. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2
Our time, abilities, resources, and opportunities belong to the Lord. The question is whether we use what He has given us faithfully.
Be a Fighter: Confront What Resists Your Obedience
Joshua 11:7 shows Joshua moving against the enemy. He acted upon God’s promise.
Christians also face spiritual opposition. Our weapons and responsibilities are spiritual: prayer, truth, faith, obedience, and the Word of God. Second Corinthians 10:3–6 directs our attention to strongholds, arguments, and thoughts that must be brought into obedience to Christ.
Some battles are obvious. Others hide beneath respectable appearances.
A person may abandon outward habits while still excusing inward bitterness. We may defend sound doctrine while allowing pride to govern our conversations. We may attend the right church while refusing to forgive someone in it.
Secret pride, jealousy, partiality, deceit, apathy, and an unyielding spirit all demand attention. Spiritual maturity includes allowing God to expose the sins we have learned to explain away.
A sin does not become harmless because we have become accustomed to it. Joshua’s earlier experiences also illustrate the need to move forward after failure. Defeat at Ai and the Gibeonites' deception did not end his responsibility to obey God.
Failure should lead us to repentance and renewed dependence upon the Lord. We must learn from what happened, make necessary corrections, and resume our responsibilities.
Paul understood the pressure of both outward conflict and inward fear: “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” — 2 Corinthians 7:5
Feeling the pressure of battle does not mean we have stopped being useful to God. It means we need His strength. Second Timothy 2:1 supplies the foundation for endurance: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” His strength keeps us fighting.
Be a Finisher: See It Through to Completion
Joshua 11:15 commends Joshua for leaving nothing undone from the commands Moses entrusted to him. The statement concerns his obedience in the work described; it does not mean he had already completed every future task in Israel’s history.
The application is searching: do we carry out the instructions God has given us? Starting often brings excitement. Finishing requires faithfulness after that excitement fades.
An athlete learns to finish the play. A builder must consider what completing the structure will require. A Christian must continue obeying when the work becomes tiring, inconvenient, or unnoticed. Paul instructed Archippus: “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” — Colossians 4:17
What have you received from the Lord? A responsibility in your home? A ministry in your church? An opportunity to encourage someone? A clear conviction about a sin you need to confess and forsake? Our confidence rests in the Lord’s grace as we continue in the work He gives us. Near the end of his life, Paul could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
He then looked ahead to the crown of righteousness and the Lord Jesus Christ's appearing. Love for Christ and the anticipation of His return give perseverance purpose.
What Have You Left Undone?
Perhaps you already know the next step in being obedient. You need to make an apology. A responsibility you have neglected. A ministry you have allowed to drift. A private sin you keep defending. A habit of prayer or Bible reading you need to restore. Bring what is unfinished in your obedience before the Lord.
Ask Him for grace to serve faithfully, courage to confront sin, and endurance to finish the work He has placed before you. Be faithful with what God has entrusted to you. Fight the good fight of faith. Finish your course, keeping your eyes on Jesus Christ.
Faithful in service. Courageous in battle. Determined to finish.
Scripture: Joshua 11:1–15; 2 Timothy 2
God gives us victories that leave no doubt about His power. Then there are battles through which He teaches us patience, obedience, and dependence upon Him.
Israel’s progression in warfare in Joshua offers a helpful picture of growth in the Christian life. Jericho reminds us that God can bring down obstacles we could never overcome on our own. Ai reminds us of the danger of self-confidence and the consequences of unaddressed sin. The Gibeonites' deception reminds us that appearances cannot replace seeking the Lord.
By Joshua 11, another coalition has gathered against Israel. Previous victories have not removed the need for present obedience. Joshua must keep trusting, keep fighting, and carry out God's commands.
The chapter testifies: "As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.” — Joshua 11:15. That statement challenges every believer. What has God shown us that we still have not done?
Be Faithful: Develop the Heart of a Servant, Soldier, and Steward
Before Joshua led Israel, he served Moses. Exodus 24:13 identifies him as Moses’ minister. His preparation for leadership included faithfully serving others.
We often desire greater opportunities while overlooking our present responsibilities. Yet faithfulness begins with the assignment already in our hands.
A servant acknowledges his master’s authority, accepts his master’s assignment, and seeks his master’s approval. Jesus Himself said: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45
Serving is part of every Christian's calling. Paul describes the minister as “the servant of the Lord” in 2 Timothy 2:24, and reminds believers in Colossians 3:24, “for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Joshua also had the heart of a soldier. He had fought against Amalek, entered Canaan as a spy, and eventually led Israel into the land. Each assignment required submission, courage, and dependence upon God. Paul tells Timothy: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” — 2 Timothy 2:3
A soldier expects discipline. A Christian cannot let personal comfort decide whether to obey God. Prayer, study, resisting temptation, and remaining faithful through disappointment all require endurance.
Joshua also demonstrated a steward's heart. He carried out the responsibility entrusted to him. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2
Our time, abilities, resources, and opportunities belong to the Lord. The question is whether we use what He has given us faithfully.
Be a Fighter: Confront What Resists Your Obedience
Joshua 11:7 shows Joshua moving against the enemy. He acted upon God’s promise.
Christians also face spiritual opposition. Our weapons and responsibilities are spiritual: prayer, truth, faith, obedience, and the Word of God. Second Corinthians 10:3–6 directs our attention to strongholds, arguments, and thoughts that must be brought into obedience to Christ.
Some battles are obvious. Others hide beneath respectable appearances.
A person may abandon outward habits while still excusing inward bitterness. We may defend sound doctrine while allowing pride to govern our conversations. We may attend the right church while refusing to forgive someone in it.
Secret pride, jealousy, partiality, deceit, apathy, and an unyielding spirit all demand attention. Spiritual maturity includes allowing God to expose the sins we have learned to explain away.
A sin does not become harmless because we have become accustomed to it. Joshua’s earlier experiences also illustrate the need to move forward after failure. Defeat at Ai and the Gibeonites' deception did not end his responsibility to obey God.
Failure should lead us to repentance and renewed dependence upon the Lord. We must learn from what happened, make necessary corrections, and resume our responsibilities.
Paul understood the pressure of both outward conflict and inward fear: “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” — 2 Corinthians 7:5
Feeling the pressure of battle does not mean we have stopped being useful to God. It means we need His strength. Second Timothy 2:1 supplies the foundation for endurance: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” His strength keeps us fighting.
Be a Finisher: See It Through to Completion
Joshua 11:15 commends Joshua for leaving nothing undone from the commands Moses entrusted to him. The statement concerns his obedience in the work described; it does not mean he had already completed every future task in Israel’s history.
The application is searching: do we carry out the instructions God has given us? Starting often brings excitement. Finishing requires faithfulness after that excitement fades.
An athlete learns to finish the play. A builder must consider what completing the structure will require. A Christian must continue obeying when the work becomes tiring, inconvenient, or unnoticed. Paul instructed Archippus: “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” — Colossians 4:17
What have you received from the Lord? A responsibility in your home? A ministry in your church? An opportunity to encourage someone? A clear conviction about a sin you need to confess and forsake? Our confidence rests in the Lord’s grace as we continue in the work He gives us. Near the end of his life, Paul could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
He then looked ahead to the crown of righteousness and the Lord Jesus Christ's appearing. Love for Christ and the anticipation of His return give perseverance purpose.
What Have You Left Undone?
Perhaps you already know the next step in being obedient. You need to make an apology. A responsibility you have neglected. A ministry you have allowed to drift. A private sin you keep defending. A habit of prayer or Bible reading you need to restore. Bring what is unfinished in your obedience before the Lord.
Ask Him for grace to serve faithfully, courage to confront sin, and endurance to finish the work He has placed before you. Be faithful with what God has entrusted to you. Fight the good fight of faith. Finish your course, keeping your eyes on Jesus Christ.
Posted in Courage, Faithfulness, Finishing, Obedience, Spiritual Warfare
Posted in Obedience, Trusting God, Faithfulness, Finish, Joshua
Posted in Obedience, Trusting God, Faithfulness, Finish, Joshua
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