Only Then & All for Him!
/ONLY THEN...
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. ONLY THEN will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” ~ Joshua 1:8
We can’t obey everything in it if we aren’t in it everyday — Continually and consistently in the Word, not casually and conveniently to receive a word. God wants to speak to us every single day in an ongoing and active way — not just to tickle our ears but to transform our lives.
Two little words in this verse positioned perfectly to perfectly position us in complete submission and total surrender. ONLY THEN.
What comes before those two little words? study, meditate, continually, night and day, obey. That’s what we are called to do — not out of duty or obligation, but out of love for the very One who gave His life for you and me.
“ONLY THEN will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Success without surrender is superficial, and prosperity without proper priorities will end in spiritual poverty.
The ONLY way to prosper, succeed, or thrive in a way that adds value to our life and the lives of others is to live according to God’s Word. We cannot live it out if we don’t know what it’s about.
When we get into the Word, the Word gets into us. It changes us — Redefines success. Rearranges priorities. Refines hearts. Realigns motives. Redirects paths. Reinforces Truth.
Timeless truth from an Everlasting God. Both unchanging. The same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8. Consistently and continually faithful and true.
Ironically it is that unchanging truth that constantly changes us.
It is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), and it will continually work on our hearts and in our lives to make us more and more like Christ.
But we must be in it in order to be changed by it.
ONLY THEN AND ALL FOR HIM!