Good morning, it is Saturday March 29th. If you were to look up the definition of success in the dictionary, you would find it defined as: favorable or desired outcomes, the attainment of wealth, favor or eminence, and to attain a desired object or end. Note that each of these definitions focuses upon the end result and completely omits the process of getting there. A better definition of success is "the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." This definition focuses on the outcome and process. Joshua 1:8 says about success, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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 Hebrew word for success in this verse means: insight, understanding, to act in wisdom, be prudent, and cause to prosper. The Hebrew word incorporates both the process and outcome and elevates success to the possession of qualities such as wisdom, prudence, and insight. Prudence means: the ability to discipline yourself by reason, shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgment in the use of resources, and circumspection with regard to risk. Those qualities are linked to successful outcomes and prosperity. Joshua was associated with favorable outcomes throughout the book of Joshua, but some of those favorable outcomes were the result of failures and setbacks which produced insight, understanding, prudence and wisdom and ultimately led to success (See Joshua 7 about the battle at Ai). Some of the most successful people have suffered failure but have turned setbacks into success through the insight gained by the experience. In other words, they learn and grow because of their mistakes. Joshua teaches these steps to true success:
(1) The principles of the Bible should be internalized and expressed in our lives
(2) Continual meditation and application of the Bible's teaching in our lives
(3) Obedience to Scriptural principles and practices
These principles are the pathway to "good" success as defined by God. In light of these principles, do you have good success?
Tomorrow morning The Children of The World Choir will be with us. You won't want to miss them.
Mel Brown