Joshua 23: 11
So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God.
All through Scripture, over and over and over again we are warned to pay attention, and take heed and diligent heed, and watch out how we live our lives, that we consider the ways and lifestyles of following His rules, letting nothing get in the way between us and our God. We must focus.
It's way too easy for us to slide, whenever we relax and take our gaze off of the goal. And when we slide, we're losing ground. Backsliding. Sliding backward.
Then we need to turn around (repent) and struggle up the upward slope again.
Joshua knew that the people needed strong leadership to keep them faithful to God; And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the Lord which He had done for Israel (24:31). So the account of Joshua ends with the people still faithful to the Lord.
But there was no more need for a strong military leader, and the people quickly fell away from serving the Lord. It seems that we as people are so weak that we do not teach our children and grandchildren sufficiently to convey to them the urgency of loving and serving only our Lord God--they have not experienced for themselves His greatness in deliverance and so are prone to going their own way, apart from God.
O my Father, show me how to convey to my own children and grandchildren their desperate need to take diligent heed to themselves to love You, our Lord and our God! Grant me Your strength, Your compassion toward them, and great pursuasion to impress their minds and hearts with the urgency of turning to You, loving You with their whole heart, and serving only You.
That You would draw them to Yourself with the understanding of how much You love them to send Your only Son to be their Sacrifice for sin, and pull them into Your own family, dear Father. Please shower upon them Your mercies and grace, that they will then worship You, the only One Who deserves our worship.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
