Following Instructions

Are you the type of person who follows instructions? Or are you the person who opens up something new and never looks at the instructions until after you have tried to put it together? Then once you realize it has more parts than it is supposed to and doesn’t look like the picture on the box, you reach for the instructions hoping they have pictures. I used to be the person who rarely looked at the instructions, but years of failure on my own have taught me it saves time and frustration to read the instructions and follow them closely.
I have been reading the book of Joshua in my quiet time lately, and I have been remind of a number of great life lessons from it. Let me share one with you this morning. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do” Joshua 1:7 NLT. This verse has a reminder, a command and a promise. Do you see them? A reminder: “Be strong and very courageous.” This reminder is from God’s promise to be with him (vs. 3, 5). Command: Obey everything that you were taught by your mentor Moses, do not turn or stray from those instructions; carefully follow them. Promise: you will be successful in everything.
You may not be aware of this, but these same thoughts are true for you and I as Christ-followers. We can be “strong and courageous.” God has promised to be with us as well (Matt 28:20). Scattered all though the Bible we have commands to study and obey the Word of God. We also have the promise of God to us that he will grant us success in life if we follow him.
Remember, the word success does not mean displaying riches or becoming well known, it is referring to our character and the fulfillment of God’s plan in us.
Be encouraged today, God is with you. Follow his instructions, obey, and you will succeed.

-Pastor Tim