READING: Joshua 1-3, Mark 16
“You shall meditate on it day and night . . . .”
Joshua 1:8
As an elementary school student, I thought success was getting good grades. As a high school student, I thought it was graduating. As a college student, I thought it was graduating and getting a good job. As a young pastor, I thought it was growing a church. As a mid-aged pastor, I thought it was growing a church and getting some recognition for it. As a seminary professor, I thought success was having big classes and selling important books.
Now, as an older man, I’m learning what success is not. I know that success is not making a name for yourself, for any recognition is fleeting. It’s not earning a lot of money, as money can’t buy much that really matters. It’s not selling books; not only does that seldom happen, but the book that sells well today can go out of print tomorrow. It’s certainly not having big classes. No, success is what it’s always been: living wisely by walking faithfully before God and being holy because He is holy.
Joshua’s story teaches us how we might have this kind of success: “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left . . . . 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” (Josh. 1:7-8). To walk wisely, we must obey God’s Word fully, taking no diversions from its truths. It is to be in our heart, consuming our mind, and on our lips all the time. We’re to be saturated in the Word.
Practically, that mandate means reading the Word, meditating on it, memorizing it, speaking it, and living it out – all the while never turning from it. Live that way, and the success of following God will mean much more to you than any kind of success the world offers.
ACTION STEPS:
- Memorize one or more verses from Joshua 1 this week. Let the Word dwell in you.
- Based on Mark 16 in today’s reading, praise the Lord for the resurrection of Jesus.
PRAYER: “God, grant me grace to live fully according to Your Word today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Joshua 4-6, Luke 1:1-20
