We can learn a lot from the servant of God, Joshua. Remember the story of Joshua and the Israelites conquering Jericho. That victory came after Joshua sought God’s face, and humbled Himself before the Almighty God. Joshua was contrite. He was meek – humble. He realized his success was because of God.

But, after Jericho, Joshua and his troops set out to take over another town – Ai. And they suddenly seemed to forget that they are God’s servants. They forgot that their success in Jericho was only by the Lord’s hand. So they failed to ask God for direction in Ai.

Ultimately, Joshua and the Israelites forgot to aim for holiness, first. There was sin in Joshua’s camp that had to be dealt with before the Lord could help them. So when the army tried to take Ai by themselves, they did not have victory. God had to remind them again that He wants purity. He wants holiness. There’s nothing more important.

My friend, God has great evangelistic victory for us. But first, He wants our hearts, our souls, our minds. He wants all of us. Why not surrender yourself again – today – to become holy for the Lord? Make a fresh start! He will use you in unimaginable ways to reach your world for Jesus Christ!

Most of us know the story of how Joshua and his army defeated the city of Jericho. But it’s important to remember that before Joshua’s success, he was on his knees before God. In Joshua 5, we read that before the Israelite army heads to Jericho, the Lord appears to Joshua as a soldier. Joshua asks the soldier, “Are you for us? Or against us?” The Lord replies, “I am here as commander of the Lord’s army.”

In other words, God says, “I didn’t come to take sides. I came to take over.” Joshua falls on his face and asks: “What does my Lord say to his servant?”

What did the Lord say to Joshua? “Take off your shoes,” He said, “for the place where you stand is holy.” Holiness. That’s what God wanted from Joshua. He didn’t give Joshua a plan of action for conquering Jericho. God tells Joshua that later. But, the first thing the Lord says is, “Be holy.”

The best way to find success in evangelism, is to aim for holiness first. So, why not pray about it? Ask God to reveal to you any area in your life that’s not ’above reproach.’ It will be worth it! As you get your heart right before God, you’ll have even greater success in winning your friends to Jesus Christ.

LuAnn was a 20-year-old student at a local college. She told my wife and me her story. “I was recently in a relationship,” LuAnn said, “but that ended because I got pregnant. Now I’m three months along, and I’m considering an abortion.”

LuAnn’s situation broke our hearts. Obviously, the worst option for her would be to have an abortion. But, I knew that before LuAnn could make any decision about her baby, she needed to make a decision about Jesus Christ.

“LuAnn,” I said, “God, the Father, loves you with an everlasting love. God will not ever leave you, He will never forsake you, as Hebrews 13:5 says. He forgives and forgets, wipes clean, and then does new things in our lives.” After talking a bit more, LuAnn was ready to commit her life to Jesus. She also decided to keep her baby!

You know, the ability to start fresh, knowing that Jesus has forgiven all your sins, is so freeing! And, like LuAnn, there are many people today who are desperate for this kind of clean start. Yet often, they don’t know where to look. That’s why God is calling you and me to be his Good News messenger.

Are you willing to share the hope that Jesus offers with a friend – perhaps this week?

When I first began to follow Jesus, at 12 years old, I would often pray that God would open doors for me to reach the whole world with the Good News. Since I was new in my faith, and still a boy, I had a lot of learning and growing to do. I felt that a wonderful place to start was studying the Bible, and getting to know it well. And so even as a boy I found myself pouring over the Bible.

Some people wonder if the Bible is a divinely inspired book, or simply a work of literature that men wrote. The Bible is written by men, yes, but these men were under the direct inspiration of God. St. Peter writes, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”

Reading God’s Word, meditating on it, and studying it, are great ways to become effective in sharing the Good News with others. After all, the Good News is found in scripture. What better way to reach the lost then to share with them what God has said in His Word.

So try it this week, won’t you? Set aside time in your day to read the Bible. You will find, in time, that sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ is easier when you have the power of God’s Word on your mind and in your heart.