Wow – a lot has happened in our reading over the last five days! We went from Moses receiving the 10 commandments from God, to Joshua and the Israelites conquering Jericho. There is one main thread throughout these five days that I want to focus on. In fact, if we can get this, we will be able to do some pretty amazing things, much like Joshua did. You will probably never cause a city to collapse simply by walking around it, but God has other things for you. But until we understand and do what Joshua did, we will get nowhere.
In Joshua 1 we read about God handing the reigns over to Joshua. Moses had died, and a new leader was needed. Joshua was the man for the job. In verse 8 God says to Joshua:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
God’s instruction to Joshua – don’t let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth. This applies to us today as well. The Bible is God’s word to us. It has principles for living. It has answers to the problems of life. The Bible is a guide book, a flashlight on the dark path of life (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path – Psalm 119:105).
He told Joshua, and he tells us today, to meditate on the Word day and night. Obey what it says. Read it, memorize it, think about it all the time. And then he says the most interesting thing. We hear a lot these days about the prosperity gospel – if you just believe, have enough faith, claim anything you want in Jesus name, you will get it. It’s a get rich scheme that simply doesn’t work.
However, God told Joshua that if he would be faithful to His Word, the Bible, then Joshua would have good success, his way would be made prosperous. Does this mean that if I read my Bible I will get rich? Of course not! What it does mean is this: if I read and obey God’s Word, He will prosper me and I will have good success – in whatever He directs me to do. That is so key – not in what I want, or try to do on my own. I will prosper and have good success in what He leads me to do.
You may be asking :“What is God leading me to do?” Unless you are connecting with God regularly (Bible reading, prayer, serving, connecting in a LifeGroup) you will not be able to discern God’s will for your life. If you want to be used by God in a mighty way, it starts with His Word.
So get your Bible out. Read it…everyday. And watch how God begins to work in your daily life.
Pastor Geoffrey
P.S. Parents, follow along with your kids here
Geoffrey is the campus pastor for our Monroe Campus and oversees Adult Ministries / LifeGroups at Southbrook. When he’s not out riding his bicycle, you’ll find him counseling, working with LifeGroup leaders, preparing for Wednesday classes, and most importantly serving and loving the community of Monroe.