Today I simply want to remind you of a few instructions, and then to encourage you with how very blessed we are to live in THESE days! First of all, we receive this instruction from the Old Testament, and it is never changed in the New! Joshua 1:8:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
Do you see that there is never a time when we are NOT to do this? If we truly want to be successful in whatever we do, then we MUST obey this instruction! There is NO other way to true prosperity and success! There are two ditches that believers sometimes fall into concerning success and prosperity. Either they believe that they have to do nothing and the blessings of God will simply pour out on them, or they believe that God wants nothing to do with natural success and prosperity and is simply concerned with spiritual things. BOTH are extremely inaccurate! Look at John 10:10 and 3 John 2:
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
Does THAT sound like someone who wants you to remain poor and "under the circumstances"? It does NOT, because HE does not! In fact, the KJV version of 3 John 2 says this:
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers
AMEN! In OUR time, with all of the wonderful technology that we have, it is easier than ever before to spend time continually in the Word of God, in some form or another! Are YOU making the most of these wonderful "tools" from God for getting, and keeping, the Word of God inside of you? If not, make the choice to do so now! You will be tremendously glad you did! Now that we have established that, I want to remind you of THIS instruction found in Mark 12:30-31:
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. 31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
When we determine to live by this law of love, then we WILL be pleasing to Him AND we will reap the rewards of that obedience here, in THIS life, AND in the life to come! There is nothing that anyone could ever do to you that would make getting out of this life of love worth it! Our walking in love, because He first loved US, is pleasing to the Lord and we have THIS promise when WE please HIM! :
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
AMEN! So, let's rest in HIS peace that passes all understanding by walking in love, with HIM first, and then with others! Remember, love NEVER fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)! Here is Hillsong with "Love Knows No End":
Shalom in Him!
