In this passage the initial conquest of the
land was completed. There were still
Canaanites around but this could be left to each tribe to subject them in their
own areas. Thus, the two and a half
tribes from the east side of the Jordan, whose land had been secured first, and
who had helped their brethren on the west side to secure their tribal areas,
were now ready to return to their homes.
Now it was time to settle down and begin to live as God’s people on a
day to day basis.
It is this context, one with which we ourselves
are familiar, that Joshua’s words come.
It goes to the issue of faithfulness. When we are under intense pressure we know we
must live with integrity; the trials help keep us on track. But when life is quiet we need to live with
integrity as well. So hear the word of
the Lord!
·
Fundamental to the life of God’s people is
always a careful attention to His word.
For Israel it was the Law of Moses.
For the Church it is wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ … the doctrine which accords
with godliness (1 Tim. 6:3). They
were to take careful heed even as we
are told to be diligent in the study
of the word of God (2 Tim. 2:15).
·
The devotion to the commandments would lead and
help in these five results. First, to love the Lord your God. This is the first commandment as Jesus said
and, we might remember, as Moses said (Deut. 6:4-6). As Jesus said: to obey God is to abide in His
love (John 14:10).
·
Second, to
walk in all His ways. God’s word and
our love for God both have practical implications. Obedience is specific. We will walk worthy of our calling (Eph.
4:1), in newness of life (Eph. 4:17), in love (Eph. 5:2), as children of light
(Eph. 5:8), in wisdom (Eph. 5:15), by faith (2 Cor. 5:7) and in the Spirit
(Gal. 5:16). Christ’s life in us will
shine through!
·
Third, to
keep His commandments. For the
Church Christ has given us a new command (John 13:34-35) which is an old
command (1 John 2:7-8) and which is not burdensome (1 John 5:3): to love one
another (1 John 5:21)!
·
Fourth, to
hold fast to Him. To hold fast is a
key to faithfulness. Moses said this to
the people near the end of his life (Deut. 10:20; 11:22; 13:4) and so did the
Apostle Paul (2 Tim. 1:13). We must not
lose our grip, a truth that reminds us there will be constant temptation to
ease up and let go!
·
Fifth, serve
Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Serve
is the term for work, labor but also
refers to the service of worship. And it
is to be with everything we are, to the core of our being. So on the job, serve Him (Eph. 6:5-8); in the
fellowship of Christ serve Him (Eph. 4:12); in the world serve Him (Rom. 1:25);
this is the only service that makes sense given the mercy of God (Rom.
12:1). As Jesus said, Him only you shall serve (Matt.
4:10). This will prepare us for eternity
(Rev. 22:3).
Take heed, love, walk, keep, hold fast and
serve faithfully by His grace today!
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