GOD-GUARANTEED SUCCESS
#4 of 7 in the SUCCESS-SERVICE-REWARDS series
#4 of 7 in the SUCCESS-SERVICE-REWARDS series
Proverbs 16
Verse 3: “Commit yourself to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Previous devotions, God’s Plan for You, The Last Thing Satan Wants, and Grand Plan show how deeply God is invested in His kid’s lives. All we need for success is to cooperate (ko-OP-er-ate means help willing, be on same team) with His indwelling Spirit. But the definition of success for a Christian is different than the world’s.
Eight year-old twins Danny and Benjy want different jobs when they grow up. Danny wants to drive NASCAR, and Benjy wants to teach math. While goals usually change throughout lives, everyone wants to be successful. And every person has a different definition of success. Many people think success is the same as being rich. Others want to be important. Still others say it’s being famous, someone who’s immediately recognized and adored. Fame, wealth, and fortune are all external—things seen outside the body.
God defines success internally, what’s inside one’s heart. The first step of God-guaranteed success is a person’s relationship with Jesus. Those who trust Him as Savior and Lord follow His lead. The Holy Spirit grows them more like Jesus every day. They do exactly what God created them to do, on the very path He preset for them.
This is personal. You are one of a kind. You’re created for a specific purpose, a plan that no one else can fill. God planned your success. He equipped you with the personality, talents, abilities, and Spiritual gifts specific to achieve victory (1 Corinthians12:4-11, Ephesians 2:10).
God-guaranteed success comes to those who cooperate with His Spirit, and don’t quit (Joshua 1:7). 1 John 5:4-5 says, “...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
So success, or victory, can also be measured in terms of death or life. What the world embraces as success leads to eternal death. God-guaranteed victory is eternal life. Apostle Paul mocks death, then praises God in 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57: “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Take Home Nugget
One day every person will be judged. Romans 14:12: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” How important is external success, really? Psalm 60:12a says, “With God, we will gain the victory.”
Nothing on our own we claim,
All that matters is what’s done in Jesus’ name.
His strength, a mighty tower by our side
Guarantees success. Yes, God will provide!
J.D. Griffith
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
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What an honor it is to meet you!
My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?