What steps can you take to ensure you remain faithful to God's love? Seeing the Heart of Joshua 23:11 “So be very careful to love the LORD your God.” • Joshua gives Israel—on the brink of settling the land—a final, Spirit-inspired safeguard: active, watchful love for the LORD. • The Hebrew idea behind “be very careful” carries urgency: guard, hedge about, keep on watching. Loving God is not passive affection; it is deliberate, guarded loyalty. Guarding Your Heart Intentionally • Proverbs 4:23—“Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the springs of life.” • Psalm 119:9-11—hiding God’s Word prevents wandering. • 1 John 2:15-17—worldly affections squeeze out love for God. Action points: - Identify competing loves; confess and forsake them. - Memorize verses that confront each rival affection. - Keep short accounts with God—daily repentance restores warmth. Staying Saturated in Scripture • Deuteronomy 6:5—love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” The command is paired with constant reciting of Scripture (v. 6-9). • Matthew 4:4—Jesus lived “by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Practical helps: - Read widely (whole-Bible plans) and study deeply (slow meditation). - Speak the Word aloud; hearing reinforces believing (Romans 10:17). - Journal insights; review them to keep truth fresh. Expressing Love through Obedience • John 14:15—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • 1 John 2:3-5—obedience is the proof of true knowledge of Him. Steps: - Before acting, ask, “What has God commanded here?” Then do it—promptly and completely. - Celebrate small victories of obedience; they build momentum for larger tests. - When you fail, run to 1 John 1:9; restored fellowship fuels renewed obedience. Cultivating Christ-Centered Fellowship • Hebrews 10:24-25—meet together to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” • Ecclesiastes 4:9-12—two withstand where one may fall. • Acts 2:42—early believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Make it practical: - Choose a church that preaches the whole counsel of God. - Join a small group or serve on a ministry team; shared mission deepens love. - Invite accountability—friends who ask about your walk with God. Praying Without Ceasing • Jude 21—“keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” • Psalm 62:8—pour out your heart before Him. Practice: - Begin each day with thanksgiving; gratitude stirs affection. - Turn worries into petitions; dependence grows closeness. - Interweave short prayers through tasks; continual conversation keeps love lively. Standing Firm in Spiritual Armor • Ephesians 6:11-17—truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, Word, prayer. Application: - Daily suit up, naming each piece and its purpose. - Use Scripture to answer temptation, as Jesus did (Matthew 4:1-11). - Remember the battle’s victor is already determined (Colossians 2:15). Investing in Worship and Service • Psalm 100:2—serve the LORD with gladness. • Romans 12:1—offer your body as a living sacrifice; this is true worship. Ideas: - Sing truth-filled songs privately and corporately. - Volunteer where needs and your gifts intersect. - View every task—work, study, chores—as service rendered to Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). Keeping an Eternal Perspective • Hebrews 12:1-2—fix your eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross. • 2 Peter 3:17-18—be on guard so you are not carried away, but grow in grace and knowledge. • Colossians 3:1-4—set your hearts on things above. Daily choices: - Read passages on Christ’s return to reset priorities. - Hold possessions loosely, people lovingly, and God supremely. - Celebrate communion often; it anchors hope in the finished work of Jesus. Regular Self-Examination • 2 Corinthians 13:5—“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” • Psalm 139:23-24—invite God to search and lead you. Routine: - Schedule quiet moments to review attitudes, actions, and affections. - Compare them against Scripture, not feelings. - Adjust immediately; lingering compromises erode love. Endurance That Finishes Well • Revelation 2:4-5 warns a church that had “forsaken the love you had at first.” • Galatians 6:9—do not grow weary; in due season you will reap. Encouragements: - Recall past mercies; gratitude fuels endurance. - Anticipate the “Well done” of Matthew 25:21. - Trust Philippians 1:6—He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Stay very careful to love the LORD your God. He supplies every means to guard that love, and He remains forever worthy of it. |
    |