“Meditate on it day and night . . careful to do everything written in it.” Joshua 1:8 NIV
“In your Bible is the resource to be strong and courageous, prosperous and successful.”
My thoughts today are about “food for the soul.”
It is astounding that anyone would presume to neglect or ignore the Bible. There is accessibility to truth that leaves any person without excuse. The neglect and ignorance of God’s Word is tragic and completely inexcusable. Your Bible is not a decoration for a coffee table; your Bible is indispensable to your health and well-being. Ignore it to your own harm. If a single book truly held the secret of financial success, would you read and study that book diligently? If a book could guarantee happiness and success in your marriage and relationships, would you follow its teachings religiously? Read Psalm 119:97-106 The Message.
An Old Testament prophet wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6 NKJV. The Bible is still the world’s best seller, yet how much does it impact your daily life? God’s Word can fill your mind with knowledge and understanding, direct your thoughts to wisdom, and distinguish God’s truth from mere opinion. But those occur only for those who apply themselves to know and obey its truth. Read Colossians 3:15-18 NIV.
When Joshua faced a daunting task without benefit of the leader and mentor on which he had relied, God gave him this instruction, “Be strong and courageous . . careful to obey all the Law . . do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you will be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-8 NIV. Isn’t that exactly what you have hoped for your life? In your Bible is the resource to be “strong and courageous, prosperous and successful.” Why would you neglect the very place those attributes of character and evidences of effectiveness can be found? In your Bible is the path to all you need and all you seek; surely, you can make time everyday for what alone is food for the soul.
The Bible offers infallible, practical wisdom for every situation, but only when its truth is sought and obeyed. Another Old Testament prophet wrote of a time when people had no heart nor interest for what God said, “I will send a famine though the land, not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. In that day the lovely young men and strong young men will faint because of thirst.” Amos 8:11-13. NIV. You have time for the internet, social media, texting and twitter; television broadcasts news and entertainment on hundreds of channels day and night. Make truth that is eternal your priority. You have the time.
“Blessed is the man . . (whose) delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 NIV. Read those last words carefully, “Whatever he does prospers!” Imagine the scope of that possibility for your everyday life.
My prayer for you today is that you learn to love and obey the Word of God.