First Things

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."

INTRODUCTION TO THE SUMMER SERIES

This summer we will examine some biblical disciplines and traits put forth in Scripture to help a person succeed in life. Of course, I am defining success as it is described in Joshua 1.7-8: Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 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. Getting one’s bearings in life is not an easy thing to do. There are many voices competing for your attention. If one wishes to please God he or she must do so in defiance of the popular “wisdom” of the age. I find Paul’s instruction to the church at Corinth is fitting advice for any generation: “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 6.17- 7.1; cp. 2 Timothy 2.4-7). While everyone has a limited amount of time and resources with which he or she is able to tackle life’s goals, every Christian has unlimited access to the power of God. Of course, more is accomplished by those who plan their work and are then determined to work at their plan than by those who just take things as they come.

Over the course of the next couple of months I will examine some Christian disciplines that build godly character: such as the importance of deciding what kind of person you want to be by making life resolutions that are biblically sound (Daniel 1.8; Exodus 33.11b). I will examine what the Bible has to say about critical thinking (Acts 17.11) and how to develop a Christian worldview through familiarity with the Word of God (Psalm 1; 119.9-11; 2 Timothy 2.15; 3.16). I will consider the importance of living a balanced life by recognizing the legitimate needs of your heart, mind and body (1 Timothy 1.7b-8; cp. Proverbs 4.23): early investments in these things reap benefits that last a lifetime. I will emphasize the importance of pacing yourself for the lifelong race (Acts 26.14b; Ecclesiastes 11.9-12.8). I will probe how to assess one’s resources and the advantages of developing a generous spirit (Matthew 25.45). I hope to examine the positive consequences of keeping company with men and women of faith, courage and honor (such as Jonathan and David; Abigail, Hannah and Esther). I look to emphasize the importance of recognizing wise counsel when you hear it. How does a Christian keep faith with the Word of God when there are few others who will stand with him? (See 2 Timothy 2.22; cp. Daniel 3.16-18; 1 Corinthians 15.33; 2 Corinthians 6.17-18.) I will help you discover how to differentiate