Joshua 1: 1–10, John 10: 7–11

By Revd George Mwaura

Today’s readings invite us into a journey – a journey from slavery to promise, from wandering to settling, from survival to abundance. And as we celebrate Father’s Day, it is fitting that we reflect on the heart of God as our Father. A Father who does not merely rescue his children from danger but lovingly leads them into fullness of life. In John 10:10, Jesus says, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.’ This is not a small promise. Jesus is speaking about abundant life, life marked by purpose, growth and hope. God never intended his people merely to escape bondage; He intended them to inherit promise. That is the story of Israel. Their journey had three stages: Egypt, the wilderness, and the Promised Land. Egypt was the place of slavery and limitation. The wilderness was a place of transition, testing, and dependence. But the Promised Land was the place of inheritance, responsibility, and flourishing.

And the truth is, many people in churches today, including our own, stop short of the promise. Some remain trapped in fear and limitation. Others leave Egypt, but settle in the wilderness, living in spiritual stagnation. But God’s call is always forward. God calls His people into promise, into maturity, and into abundance. In Joshua 1, Israel stands at a turning point. Moses is gone, and God says to Joshua: Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River-just like that! The old season had ended, and a new chapter required movement.

I believe this is also a message for us at Christ the Cornerstone. As we reflect on the visitation report and seek to implement its vision, we are not simply maintaining what has been. God is calling us forward into a deeper and richer expression of his life among us. This is our Joshua moment. God is saying to us: Get up, get ready; get moving!

But moving into the promise requires growth. God tells Joshua: As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. Joshua would have fondly remembered the miracles under Moses: manna falling from heaven every day, water gushing from a rock, the pillar of cloud by day and fire at night. Yet when Israel enters the Promised Land, many of those miracles stop. The manna ceases. The cloud disappears. From here on; they must now cultivate the land, dig wells, and learn strategy and warfare. Why? Because God was growing them up. Under Moses, Israel was like a baby carried by a parent. But in the Promised Land, they had to mature. And this is important for us to understand: we must never confuse God’s presence with his methods. God did not promise Joshua the same experiences Moses had. He promised his presence.

And isn’t that what good fathers do? A wise father does not do everything for their children for ever. At first, he carries them. Then he teaches them. Then he empowers them to stand on their own. A loving father prepares his children, not merely to survive, but to flourish responsibly. In many ways, that is what God is doing with us. He is calling us into maturity as a church. Some blessings can only be sustained by people who have grown enough to carry them. There are places with God that we do not simply walk into, we grow into them.

And growth always requires commitment. As a church, we must face reality honestly. For years, we have often done the bare minimum financially while hoping for maximum results. (I must add a caveat here because I am aware of some very generous donors and givers in the congregation, but not all of us,) Yet if we truly believe God is calling us to be an Oasis of Hope in Central Milton Keynes, then we must participate in that vision with faith and sacrifice. That is why the leadership team proposed Sunday, 19 July 2026 as a Church Gift Day. Not because God has abandoned us, but because God is inviting our participation in realising this dream. You see, the Promised Land still required Israel to break the ground, plant, cultivate and build. Likewise, if we are to settle in the promise God has for this church, it will require generosity, responsibility, and shared commitment.

Fathers understand this principle well. A good father does not simply give gifts; he builds a future. He invests, sacrifices, and works hard so that the family may flourish. And today, as we honour fathers, we also remember our Heavenly Father, who calls all of us to become builders of his kingdom. Jesus says in John 10 that those who enter through him will come in and go out and find pasture. Notice that word, ‘pasture’. Pasture in this context means more than just a little – it means provision and abundance.

Too many people, however, visit the promised land but never settle in it. They dream about what God could do but never establish roots. Yet settling in the promise means building something lasting. It means planting deeply, persevering faithfully, and trusting God for the long journey. That is why God repeatedly tells Joshua: Be strong and courageous. Courage my dear friends is not the absence of fear; it is obedience in the presence of unpredictability. Stepping into God’s future always requires faith.

So today, the call is clear: leave Egypt behind. Do not settle in the wilderness. Step into the Promised Land and settle there. Move from dreaming to living, from talking to walking, from promise to possession. Church, this is our moment. God is calling us not only to grow in numbers, but to grow in depth, maturity, generosity and impact. And, just as a loving father desires his children to thrive, so our Heavenly Father desires abundant life for us. So let us trust God. Let us grow in God. Let us step boldly into all God has prepared for us. And may the God who has carried us this far now establish us firmly in his promise, so that we may flourish together in the fullness of the life Christ has given. And the church says?

Amen

Happy Father’s Day, men!