LEARNING DAILY

 

Joshua 1:7-9, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do all according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in (my emphasis) it day and night, that you may observe to do all according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord speaking to Joshua

 

Did you notice the word in was emphasized in the verses above?  Did you wonder why? It was more for me because I have quoted the verse by saying the Book of the Law was to be meditated on; yesterday was the first time I have noticed the word was in and not on. Why the big deal? For me, the meaning of the entire verse changed. You and I have to be in the Word of God, reading, studying, and meditating about what it says. That is the only way we can know what it says and be obedient to it. It is to be opened and read everyday not just thought about. Are you understanding what I am getting at?

 

God told Joshua to be successful he needed to meditate on the His words constantly and continually. Meditating meant to read quietly, even talk to yourself as you think about what you are reading.  Too often we read to just get a “duty” done for the day. God wants us to take our time reading and let His Word(s) sink in to our minds and hearts. Being obedient to what He desires and commands begin with a “relentless quest to know and take to heart God’s Word” (DJSB).

 

Success for you and me, as Believers, is different from what the world defines success. For Joshua success meant being obedient to God in order to take the Promised Land.  For us it means walking on the narrow way that takes us to eternal life in God’s kingdom. It is following the directions God gives us. That takes us to believe He knows what is best for each of us – even when we might not understand the directions He has given. My son-in-law uses the app called WAZE to get to destinations. It gives the best route, takes him around problems ahead, tells him when there is a stalled vehicle ahead, and even warns there is a patrolman ahead. He has to trust the app when he does not understand the changes in routes.  That’s what God does for us when we walk on the narrow way. We have to trust Him even when we do not understand. That trust comes from being in the Word, meditating on it day and night so we get to know who He is and learn how much He loves us.

 

 My challenge to you for 2022 is to be in God’s Word and to meditate on it day and night to see how it changes your life. This will be the last Learning Daily for 2021. I look forward to seeing what God has in mind for each of us in 2022!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB