I concluded reading through the book of Joshua this morning. Joshua gives a rousing farewell challenge to Israel and its leaders as he prepares "to go the way of all the earth". (23:14)
I was struck by how he puts together two themes that are found running throughout Scripture but are especially emphasized by our Lord Jesus - obedience and love.
“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Lawof Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left." 23:6
"So be very careful to love theLord your God." 23:11
At present in our culture, we prefer an emphasis on the soft warm theme of love. Everyone is in favour of more love, even though it is a very ill defined word. Not so popular is the seemingly harsh, demanding, uncomfortable word "obedience". Yet a thousand and more years before Jesus, Joshua puts obedience to, and love for God in the same paragraph, in the same challenge. The Bible consistently puts these words together. We humans would like to hold closely the seemingly soft word and ignore the obedience word.
Jesus insists that the one proves the other. How many who call themselves believers either don't know this, ignore it or blatantly refuse to believe it. How many will sing enthusiastically and speak warmly about their love for Jesus, but disobey much of what He taught. Jesus says, no, the proof of love is obedience.
“If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15 (see also vs. 21 & 23)
So Joshua had it right, 1000 years and more before Jesus. It is totally correct to keep the close connection between love and obedience. Two thousand years later, we must resist the watered down, wimpy definition of love that is so common and continue to keep these two close together in our living and in our teaching. We will continue to demonstrate to Jesus and the world, our love for Him through our willing, humble obedience to his commands.
I was struck by how he puts together two themes that are found running throughout Scripture but are especially emphasized by our Lord Jesus - obedience and love.
“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Lawof Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left." 23:6
"So be very careful to love theLord your God." 23:11
At present in our culture, we prefer an emphasis on the soft warm theme of love. Everyone is in favour of more love, even though it is a very ill defined word. Not so popular is the seemingly harsh, demanding, uncomfortable word "obedience". Yet a thousand and more years before Jesus, Joshua puts obedience to, and love for God in the same paragraph, in the same challenge. The Bible consistently puts these words together. We humans would like to hold closely the seemingly soft word and ignore the obedience word.
Jesus insists that the one proves the other. How many who call themselves believers either don't know this, ignore it or blatantly refuse to believe it. How many will sing enthusiastically and speak warmly about their love for Jesus, but disobey much of what He taught. Jesus says, no, the proof of love is obedience.
“If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15 (see also vs. 21 & 23)
So Joshua had it right, 1000 years and more before Jesus. It is totally correct to keep the close connection between love and obedience. Two thousand years later, we must resist the watered down, wimpy definition of love that is so common and continue to keep these two close together in our living and in our teaching. We will continue to demonstrate to Jesus and the world, our love for Him through our willing, humble obedience to his commands.
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