Two more Biblical Rules for Success – Joshua 1:8

Yesterday we discussed a biblical rule for success.

And today, we have another. Actually, we have two others.

What are they?

Let it in.

Please expand on that…

Let’s read Joshua 1:8 again:

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

The word ‘meditate’ means ‘to ponder, ruminate, or examine attentively’.

The NET Bible translates meditate on it as “You must memorize it” and notes that the Hebrew means to “read it in undertones” or “recite it quietly.”

So don’t just read the Scriptures, thoroughly digest them.

Psalm 119:18 says,

‘Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions,’ and this is something we should be praying daily. The truth is that we can read a Scripture dozens of times and suddenly see something we’ve never seen before.

It’s interesting that you mention seeing something we’ve never seen before. I like to see it as seeing things we have seen before, in a way we hadn’t before. The idea is to train your mind to see things from God’s viewpoint. Mark Twain once said the two best days in a person’s life are the day they’re born, and the day they discover why they’re born. And the only person who can tell you that, is your Creator.

Before moving on, let’s take a look at Joshua.

The Lord said that He shall meditate on it day and night.

It’s one thing to say to a leader, “Be strong and courageous.” It’s something else to enable him or her to do it. Joshua’s strength and courage was to come from meditating on the Word of God, from believing the promises in it, and from living in obedience to its precepts.

Let me just be sure. We believe that meditation requires the personal investment of some time and mental energy.

I like this analogy:

Even as God feeds the birds, He doesn’t throw the food into their nests. The birds are still required to go forth and bring in the food God provides. In the same way, the Bible is like a table filled with food necessary for daily living and God invites all to “Come and eat!” But too often believers fail to heed His gracious invitation. Instead, we depend on substitutes.

Hmm. Wow.

Okay so what was the third rule?

Third, live it out.

‘Be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful’ (Joshua 1:8 NIV 2011 Edition).

So yes, study the Bible, meditate on the Bible, and even memorise the Bible. That’s great! But if we want to find success in life we must obey the Bible. We must translate truth into action. No one can guarantee you success except God – and that guarantee is found in reading, meditating, and obeying His Word.

I once read that value and worth are directly related to purpose. It’s like how a car that won’t run is worthless. Or a pen that won’t write is useless.

So, if you are going to be what you need to be, you need to find your purpose in life and fulfil it. At death, your fame and fortune will not matter. The thing of eternal value will be your answer to this question: ‘Did I live my life in the presence of God and for His purpose?’

My Sunday Skl