The book of Joshua chronicles Israel’s conquest of the promised land.  As the soldiers returned home from battle Joshua gave them a new assignment.  They were not to let down their guard but they were to realize their new adversary was not external but internal – it was their tendency to go astray and forget about God.   Joshua’s advice that was given 3,000 years ago is just as timely for us today.  Pay special attention to the verbs,

 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  (Joshua 22:5)

If Israel would have carried out the commands in this verse it would have spared them much grief; but the truth is if we carry out the commands of this verse it can save us from much grief.  Let’s look at each of the commands:

You are to be very careful to observe the commands of the law which Moses gave.  You may be thinking, “But I don’t know all of those commands.”   Jesus summarized the law in two cogent commandments,

Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12:29-31)

Jesus’ answer ties in with Joshua’s next words of advice,  to love the LORD your God.  My love for God is often demonstrated when I keep His commandments,

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.  (John 14:21)

The next two verbs reinforce each other as we “walk in all His ways and keep His commandments” we are living lives of obedience to His word.  Throughout the Bible we see the principle that obedience to God’s word brings blessings and departure from God’s word results in consequences.

Joshua then encouraged his audience to  hold fast to Him.  What does it mean to “hold fast”?  Years ago I was free climbing up the side of a mountain to set up a top rope climb for my students.  When you are free climbing there is no safety rope, it’s simply you and the rock.  Knowing I had no protection I held fast to the rock surface so that I would not fall.  That’s how God wants us to hold fast to Him – desperately clinging to Him so that we don’t fall.

Finally, you are to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  This implies a joyful and willing spirit.  Our relationship with God is often demonstrated in our service to God and for others.

How does your life match up with these six imperatives?   If you’re like me you’re constantly working on them – making progress but also seeing room for improvement.  Don’t grow weary in doing well but keep on following Joshua’s advice.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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