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.” – Joshua 1:8 NASB
One of the most wonderful promises in the Bible appears in Joshua 1:8. God certifies that for those who will take His Word, immerse themselves in it, and apply it and its principles to every aspect of life then those individuals will enjoy prosperity and success. Numerous of America’s Founding Fathers personally experienced these benefits and repeatedly affirmed the truth proclaimed in this verse:
“Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited…What a Utopia—what a Paradise would this region be.” – John Adams, Signer of the Declaration, The works of John Adam, ed. Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1865), vol.II,pp.6-7 diary entry for February 22, 1756.
“The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the Word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts.” – John Jay: The winning of the Peace. Unpublished Papers 1780-1784, ed. Richard B. Morris (New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1980), vol. II, p. 709, to Peter Augustus Jay on April, 8, 1784.
“Christianity is the only true and perfect religion; and …in proportion as mankind adopt its principles and obey it precepts, they will be wise and happy.” Benjamin Rush, Signer of the Declaration. Benjamin Rush, Essays, Literary, Moral & Philosophical (Philadelphia: Thomas & Samuel F. Bradford, 1798), p. 93, “A Defense of the Use of the Bible as a School Book.”
A Home Church Idea:
Get your family together around the kitchen table and read aloud Joshua 1:8. Participation is so important so parents let your kids look it up in their bibles and underline the verse or any other marking they might choose. Read it out of a few translations and let them discuss what the passage says and means. Careful parents let the kids talk!
Go on the internet and copy a picture of John Jay, Benjamin Rush, and John Adams. Lay the pictures out on the table and let them draw one or more of the Founding Fathers. Some might do it free hand and others might trace the picture. It doesn’t matter. Don’t squelch their creativity.
Under the picture have them write out a brief summary statement of what each man said, and why it is important to them and to us.
Once again every person draws their picture and stands up and explains their drawing.
Perhaps each child could write up a brief paragraph to give to their teacher when they come to school describing what they learned over the Summer!
In Christ,
Dale
Dale@DaleEbel.Org