Just Love Him; Worship Just Him

Scripture: Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now. The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God. Joshua 23:7-11

Observation: In these last two chapters Joshua, Joshua is giving his final advice to Israel before he dies. He tells them God will either be with them, or he will turn against them. Over and over again, this either/or proposition is dependent on only two actions of the people of Israel:

-- Do not worship other gods.
-- Love the Lord.

There are reminders of other elements of the law, but the bottom-line issue of whether or not God will be for or against Israel is all about these two factors only.

Application: I am reminded again of this simple truth ... all God really wants from us is for us to love him. He loves me greatly - so greatly that he sent his son to die for me - and all I have to do is love him in return. I won't even get into the "how to show love" conversation today. This is too simple of a truth: God just wants us to love him, and when we do we will then get to bask in his love forever.

But what about worshipping  the gods of the "nations that remain among you"? Today, this is about conforming to society - about allowing out thoughts and deeds to align with and even honor things that are against god, even to the point that we make them idols in our lives. Where am I doing this?

One danger is with my job status/title/recognition ... something I have actively resisted recently. Another is likely my home and the value I place in material comfort, which manifests is attempting to protect my future financial security. These are areas I dwell upon, and which I must take care to do become idols that I hold in importance due to the perception of secular society.

I am set apart to be different. I am blessed to be a blessing. It is time I live into my adopted son-ship within the covenant with God through Jesus.

Prayer: These last few days, you have shown me how to mature in my daily life. I am beginning on the path, Lord. Please continue to make the paths straight, and be a lamp unto my feet as I seek to walk with you daily. Thank you for answered prayers. Amen.