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.   Joshua 1:8 NASB

Our scripture passage today is pretty clear. I don’t think it needs any lengthy explanation. Simply follow God’s commands and live according to His rules and you will be prosperous and have success. That’s pretty simple isn’t it? Do what God tells you to do and you will be prosperous and successful, it’s not rocket science or so you would think. But for some people, it’s extremely difficult to comprehend. I know because I used to be one of those people.

I grew up on a dairy farm. We had cows and horses, therefore, we had fences. You see the fences were necessary because without them the cows and horses would roam freely and possibly get onto the highway and get hit by a car. Now such a large animal could do a great deal of damage to the car and cause harm to its occupants. The fences were there to keep boundaries for the animals. We have dogs now and we have fences so that they can go outside and play without getting loose and being hit by a car or killed or maimed by a bigger animal. The fences are there for their safety and the safety of others.

Boundaries and laws are set for our safety and the safety of others. The same holds true with the 10 Commandments.  God established a very clear cut set of rules for us to live by. He expects us to obey these rules and in return, He promises us a life of peace and joy and in our scripture passage today also prosperity and success.

Growing up on that dairy, there were times when we had certain animals that managed to get out of the fence. I guess the grass really does appear to be greener on the other side. In working probation and parole, I saw the same behavior with humans. They would have a piece of paper that listed some very clear cut rules. If they followed these rules, they were able to reside at home and live in society. If they failed to follow these rules, they went to jail. Now for some of us, this seems like a no brainer, right? I encouraged them to read these rules daily and like our scripture passage says, to keep them in mind at all times. But, for many people it’s not so easy. They lack boundaries, they tend to constantly go outside the fence or the perimeter that has been set for them. I used to never cease to be amazed at the lengths that people would go through to violate the rules and therefore land themselves back in jail.

But as I drew closer to the Lord, I began to realize that I had that same problem. God had given me a clear cut set of rules to follow. I had picked and chosen the ones that I wanted to follow. I had failed to obey the ones that I did not want to follow. This had resulted in me being in bondage to my sin. I was locked up in my own miserable prison where my sin had separated me from God. So, just as the failure to obey the rules had separated many of my clients from society, my sin had separated me from God. I discovered that this was a miserable place to be. So, I prayed, I repented, I promised God I would do better and I did for a while and then I fell back into sin. Just like those poor Israelites that had wandered around the mountain for so long, I couldn’t get it right.

But then one day when I couldn’t take it anymore, I cried out to God and begged Him to help me. He made it clear that I had to give it all over to Him and that’s just what I did. I gave it all to Him. I gave Him the sin, the sorrow, the sadness, and the pain and I trusted Him with it. He cleaned things up for me and made my life over.

When our animals stay within the fences, they are fed, protected and well cared for. When they manage to get out of the fenced in area, they are without food, shelter, or protection from injury. When we step out of God’s boundaries that He has set for us, we are not guaranteed His guidance, His provision, or His protection.

If you have stepped out of the fence, know that He is looking for you. He wants you to return safely to Him. In Luke 15:4 Jesus tells us that a shepherd with 99 sheep will leave the 99 to find one that has gone astray and in verse 7 he tells them that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need to repent.

If you have strayed from your boundaries, know that God is waiting there for you to return. He is willing to meet you where you are and carry you back to safety. He is our shepherd and He is a good shepherd (John 10:10). Return to a place where you can enjoy prosperity and success. Meditate on his rules day and night and be sure to obey them and stay within the boundaries He has set for us.

If you have been living life outside of God’s boundaries, turn to Him today. He will gladly welcome you back into the pasture where you can have prosperity and success along with peace, joy, and protection.

Have a great day!