doctor's life support

5th July: The Night Before...

Have I not commanded you? Fear not. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

There are some who appear positively to enjoy a lecture to a big audience, or presenting a case for the seminar or grand round. It is a challenge, and they delight in it. But for most of us these occasions are associated with a fearful apprehension that gives us an uneasy night's sleep beforehand, and a quickening of the pulse and paling of the face at the time. Yet these things have to be faced. The words given to Joshua can be a great support to us: 'Fear not, have I not commanded you?' The Christian goes as God's ambassador about his daily duties, and this includes public appearances. As an ambassador he does his very best, prepares well beforehand, rehearses, thinks about the important points and seeks the help of others. But having done all this, when the occasion comes, he goes as a servant of the living God, even though speaking on secular matters. He relies on the strength and courage that God gives in response to his prayers and know that God will be with him. The words he uses, the standard he sets, the grace and consideration he shows towards the patient whose case he demonstrates, these all come from his maker. And so the burden becomes lighter, the accomplishment greater, and God's name is honoured.

Joshua did all that was humanly possible to prepare for the taking of Jericho, and he was right to do so. But, military genius though he was, he only found victorious power when, on the eve of the battle, he met the Captain of the host of the Lord, drawn sword in hand, and fell down and worshipped him (Jos 5:13-15).

It was for Joshua to do his best in total reliance on the Lord. It was for the Lord to magnify him in the eyes of other people as he saw fit (Jos 4:14).

Teach us good Lord to serve thee as thou deservest,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for any reward
save that of knowing that we do thy will.

Ignatius Loyola

Further reading: 2 Cor 11:24-30. 2 Cor 5:14-15.

OPG