What does loving the Lord your God look like in practical terms? The Call to Love in Joshua 23:11 “Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.” Setting the Context • Joshua is addressing Israel near the end of his life, reminding them that victory, inheritance, and security hinge on covenant love for the LORD. • The command is not sentimental; it is an all-of-life allegiance that protects them from compromise and judgment. Navigating the Command: Love Expressed in Daily Life • “Watch yourselves carefully” signals that loving God is deliberate, guarded, and intentional. • The Hebrew idea behind “watch” (shamar) means to keep, preserve, maintain—implying constant vigilance over one’s heart and behavior. Practical Expressions of Love 1. Cultivate Exclusive Loyalty – Reject rival affections: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) – Regular self-evaluation: ask what absorbs time, money, emotion; remove idols quickly. 2. Obey His Word Joyfully – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) – Build daily habits: reading, memorizing, and applying Scripture, trusting its sufficiency. 3. Cling to the LORD – “You are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.” (Joshua 23:8) – Make prayer ongoing conversation; lean on Him before leaning on human strategy. 4. Hate What He Hates – “Hate evil, O you who love the LORD.” (Psalm 97:10) – Actively turn from sin, refuse entertainment that normalizes what God calls wicked. 5. Love His People – “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:21) – Serve in the local church, bear burdens, practice generous hospitality. 6. Guard the Mind – “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) – Filter media and conversations through the lens of truth, purity, and edification. 7. Live with Gratitude – “Give thanks in every circumstance.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) – Keep a record of answered prayer and daily mercies to stir affection and trust. Guarding the Heart • Sin dulls affection; unconfessed sin erodes love. Practice immediate confession (1 John 1:9). • Surround yourself with godly friends who will exhort and correct in love (Hebrews 3:13). Obedience and Trust • Love is proven when obedience costs something—time, resources, reputation. • Trust His promises: blessings follow obedience (Joshua 23:14), whereas compromise invites discipline (Joshua 23:15-16). Whole-hearted Devotion in Community • Family worship—read, sing, and pray together. • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper thoughtfully, renewing covenant love. • Share testimonies of God’s faithfulness, strengthening collective resolve. Remaining Watchful and Persevering • Keep short accounts with God daily. • Review personal goals through the lens of kingdom priorities. • Finish well, like Joshua, by passing on a legacy of uncompromising love for the LORD. When “watching yourself carefully” becomes routine, loving the Lord your God shows up in every decision, every relationship, and every moment of worship—proving that covenant love is not abstract but profoundly practical. |
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