• Is success measured in the number of attenders at your church this Sunday?
• Is success measured by the financial statement of this month’s receipts?
• Is success measured by the lack of infighting, struggle and stress?

Hardly.  In fact, one of the challenges we have as pastors is to not buy-in to the world’s system of measuring success!  It is deadly thinking and according the Paul, “unwise” to compare yourself against others for the measurement of success or even self-worth.

So, then how does one measure success?

One of the answers is found in the instruction given to Joshua in chapter 1.  Remember he had a significant assignment by God to lead a large group of people across Jordan to the inheritance of the Promised Land.  In God’s instructions, Joshua was told…

• Moses is dead
• You must lead this people
• You must be strong and courageous
• You will not be alone

Four times God instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous because he knew the enormity of the assignment.  God’s assignments are always “over our head” and larger than we are.  If your assignment is not bigger than you and constantly kicking the seat of your britches, then you are not under assignment to the Lord!!!

The marker of success is given in verse 7-8, chapter 1…”Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.  This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, sot hat 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 success.”

Success is faithful obedience to God’s Word…plain and simple…regardless of the place you serve, the church you pastor, the challenges you have…FAITHFULNESS is the marker God uses for designation of successful people.

• Let’s be faithful today to all that God has said.
• Let’s read God’s Word more and learn from it.
• Let’s pray every day and be careful to follow God’s instructions.