591 - Got my MBA

Joshua 1:6-8 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

There are people that pay a ton of money to get their MBA. Yes, of course it does hold some clout on the resume and it does prove that they could withstand another few years of schooling and rounds of tests, etc. But as far as finding out how to be successful and prosperous in the business world, the passage in Joshua could do all that for them for free.

Lord Jesus really hit that home to me this morning. I do want to be successful - in life, in ministry, in family, in marriage - and not in that order. But it does take some work on my part. Yes, we would like to think that just sitting back and having faith that God will take care of it all - which He will ultimately - to me does not require that much faith. I think to actually step out and DO something even when you don't know which way to turn or the correct leading of the Lord takes faith. Those of lesser faith see this random stepping as dangerous, uneducated, and even pious to some degree. I see it as obedience to radical faith and courage.

So briefly the Lord just gave me step to success...

1) Be strong and courageous - said not once but 2 times very quickly. It seems to me the strong and courageous part is not so much against your enemies that are obvious, but the ones that you would never believe. It states that the reason you need to be strong is that you will be leading your people to the land - these are YOUR people. They may not understand radical faith. They may not grasp this courage. They may not be accepting of all this change. And they may even question you to the nth degree. Be strong and courageous - have some shoulders and backbone.

2) Obey all the Law - not part, not the part you like, not the part that is fun, and not just the part that takes no courage, but ALL the Law. On the cruise there was an Orthodox Jewish couple. Obviously they were doing their part to obey all the Law. I walked up to meet them and was introduced. In normal style I stuck out my hand to shake. He refused and said he could not touch another woman. At a dance party one night he walked around with 2 drinks of water in his hands. Didn't want to make a mistake. I suppose in the best way they could they were trying to live by the Law. We know according to the New Testament that the Jesus sets us free from the Law. Praise you Father - I could never live up! Thank you for your blood!! Help me to live by Your grace and mercy, but never taking those for granted or to live by excuse!

3) Meditate on it day and night - To live by the Law at least back then and now for my new Jewish friends it takes years of education in the Jewish faith to live by the Law. I was told they each took time away and out of their life to attend a Hebrew School in Jerusalem to know the Law. Even those that are not Orthodox were so serious and committed to the faith. I think the jewel i take from this part of the passage is to be reminded this is a love letter from my Savior. He wants me to read it each and every day, multiple times a day if possible, and just bask in what He has done for me, said to me, and His love for me! Even though I have read it before, I want to open the note, smell the sweet fragrance, and see the sweet love once again and again and again!

Do all those 3 things and success is on its way - lots of money - probably not, but peace, joy, love, patience, etc!!!!!