Notes of Faith February 10, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
October 29, 2000
“LIFE IN THE WORD”
Joshua 1:8
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 success.
This body of instruction was given by the Lord to Joshua to give to the people of Israel before going into the Promised Land. It was intended to regulate their life in the Lord. I can apply the principle of this wonderful verse to my life and so can each of you. It can regulate our lives in the world. I see three major principles coming from the heart of this brief but cogent gem of truth.
1. MY CONCENTRATION ON THE WORD
Memorizing it. “The Word shall not depart from your mouth.”
Moses said in Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
These words which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart - and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in you house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
One can’t possibly accomplish this apart from committing Scripture to memory.
Meditating on it. This is running Scripture through your mind throughout your waking hours - chewing the Word like a cow chews her cud - at well timed intervals.
2. MY COMMITMENT TO THE WORD
“That you might be careful to do all that is written in it.” This is pure and simple obedience to God’s truth. James said, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22).” To do the Word is to take the Word of God seriously.
3. THE WORD’S COMMITMENT TO ME
When I concentrate on the Word by memorizing and meditating on it- and I commit to the Word by obeying it - then the Word makes a firm, twofold commitment to me.
My way will be prosperous. Not easy, but prosperous. Sometimes spiritual prosperity comes with great difficulty.
I will have success. Not riches - but success from God’s vantage point. God’s people had great success in the land, but at what a sacrifice! Often success comes through great struggle. I need to remember that in the conflicts I am thrust into.
May God richly bless you as you contemplate life in His Word.
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
The Word of God is the only truth that leads to eternal life through faith in Jesus. The Word gives guidance, understanding, but best of all describes relationship with God. It tells us His desire, His will for being with mankind in intimate communion! Let us seek to know God through His Word, through the communion of prayer, and living a life of obedience!
Pastor Dale