Joshua 23
Today's Passage: Joshua 23
Let the words of Joshua in verse 11 travel to the depth of your soul: Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.
Joshua has just reminded the Israelite leaders of God’s deliverance to them. God fulfilled a promise He made 500 years prior. The people of Israel were participants of God’s plan and promise. God had delivered them. He had fought for them. Now, they were to rest and follow the Lord. They were to forsake the gods of other nations. And the main way they were to do that: be very careful to love the Lord your God.
This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Paul writes: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Think about what actions Paul lists here:
Those are some remarkable actions. But Paul says, if you do those things and haven’t loved, there was no point.
Joshua was calling the leaders of Israel to love God with everything, keeping their eyes fixed upon Him. Jesus called us to do the same (Matthew 22:37).
Do you love God? Does your love for Him show to those around you?
Written By: Brice Stockton
Let the words of Joshua in verse 11 travel to the depth of your soul: Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.
Joshua has just reminded the Israelite leaders of God’s deliverance to them. God fulfilled a promise He made 500 years prior. The people of Israel were participants of God’s plan and promise. God had delivered them. He had fought for them. Now, they were to rest and follow the Lord. They were to forsake the gods of other nations. And the main way they were to do that: be very careful to love the Lord your God.
This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Paul writes: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Think about what actions Paul lists here:
• Speak in tongues of men and angels
• Prophetic powers and have all knowledge
• Faith to move mountains
• Give all away and die
Joshua was calling the leaders of Israel to love God with everything, keeping their eyes fixed upon Him. Jesus called us to do the same (Matthew 22:37).
Do you love God? Does your love for Him show to those around you?
Written By: Brice Stockton
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