8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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."
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
God continued giving Joshua his marching orders as he prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. God continued to encourage and exhort Joshua to not only keep the law, but to meditate on it continually, and God reiterated His promise that blessing would follow obedience.
We’ve examined the spiritual principle for obedience and how we are to fulfill the law of love through service, forgiveness and unity. But God’s instructions regarding the law in Joshua 1:8 go a step further and reference what we speak about (do not let it depart from your mouth) and what we think about (meditate on it day and night).
Athlete, if you want to conquer the giants in the land and truly own your faith, it’s not enough to know God’s Word intellectually.
God called Joshua, and He is calling us to go past our head knowledge into a richer, deeper, desperate heart-dependence on the truth that undergirds every word written in the Bible.
When our hearts are fully engaged in our faith, we can’t help but speak of God’s glorious truth day and night. Everything about our lives will shine like a spotlight back on Him, His Word, His love and His truth.
So my question is, “Do you know the truth?” Here is some truth to know:
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:1,2.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” James 1:2,3.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6,7 (NIV).
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” Ephesians 5:21 (NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22,23.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32 (NIV). We will be free to run our race.
