Success!

Success!

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8 KJV

The dictionary defines success this way: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose OR the good or bad outcome of an undertaking. I believe there is no man who just sets out to do anything of value for fun. We discipline ourselves because we want a particular outcome, and we are careful to align with the conditions that will bring out the desired outcome. That's the way of the world, as there are some parallels with this too in the spiritual.

First, there is no man who wants to get anywhere with God who will not pay the required price. The call of God on a man's life is precious, and at the same time, demanding. It does not leave room for anything or anyone else. Second, the God who calls makes it clear what the terms of engagement are, and what I have to do to get all that He has promised. The world teaches that daily habits form the bedrock of lifestyle, and in the spiritual too, daily habits define both my present and eternal realities. 

A man who will be successful academically would take time to study relevant material, understand and apply it to whatever context the test requires. A man who will be used mightily by God would also take time to study the relevant material, which is the Word that tells us about this God. The knowledge of God derived from this constant study must be applied to daily obedience. There will be tests on what is read, but as long as I sort out daily obedience, I am defined as successful by God. God does not wait for my life to end before He presents me to the world as His success story. My daily life of obedience is all He needs.

When my life aligns with the knowledge of God, I am defined as successful. This is one major difference between the world's and the Word's definition of success. The world will only see you as successful at the end of the endeavour; God sees you as a daily success as long as you are living in line with the material He has provided. My daily life is a success story as long as it is lived in light of God's commands. 

Be careful of a world that defines success only by the end of a thing. Success by God is both an identity and a possession. You are and have success because of your walk with God. This earthly walk translates into an eternity with God. You are not successful simply because you want to make heaven at the end of your life, but you are successful Now simply because you are an obedient child of God. Can God say this about me? Can He count on daily obedience from me? His time of favour is here.