Success Comes With Obedience

Obedience isn’t popular today amongst God’s people, especially when it comes to what we want, even if what we want is Kingdom oriented. Instead of doing it the way prescribed in God’s word, we go about getting it our way and hurting God’s people in the process.

So here’s the thought: Don’t expect to succeed when you’re not willing to follow God at His word!

Joshua and the children of Israel learned this lesson after their defeat at the hands of the inhabitants of Ai.

Earlier they had won a great victory at Jericho by following God’s instructions. But in victory they sinned when one of them, Achan, disregarded God’s instructions and took some of the loot.

So, when faced with the small no nothing town of Ai, Joshua sent a couple thousand men, and they were soundly defeated. Immediately Joshua fell on his face before God crying out to Him.

But God said, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant.” (Joshua 3:10-11 NLT)

Once confession was made and the sin dealt with, the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” (Joshua 8:1 NKJV)

If we want to live a victorious and successful life, we need to follow the Lord’s word and way. And while we’re all sinners, falling short of God’s holy and righteous standards for life, Romans 3:23, we can turn it around and succeed, we can make it right through asking God and those we’ve wronged to forgive us and turn from our way and start doing what is right.

“Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.” (Hosea 6:1 NKJV)