Repetition

Josh 23:11 ""Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God." NKJV

Joshua is old. He knows that his time is short, so he is loading up on giving advice to the nation of Israel. He either says the same thing in chapter 23 as he said in chapter 22 because he is getting old and repeating himself, or he is saying it because it is huge and needs to be cemented in these people's lives and hearts. (Actually he says it and repeats it because it is straight from God and God wants these people to grasp the urgency of what Joshua is saying.) What does he say again? "Keep and do all that is written in the Book of the law of Moses." V6 He said that earlier. "Hold fast to the Lord your God." V8 He said that earlier. "Take careful heed." V11 He said those words earlier. And…"Love the LORD your God." V11 He said that exact thing before.

I know sometimes I am dense. Actually, most of the time I am dense. My wife has to tell me things more than once in order for it to sink in. I think we are all like that. It has been said that in order for something to register with people, it has to be told to them three times in three different ways. That is just the way we are. God knows this. Joshua knew this. And this is what was important: Obey God's word, cement yourself to the Lord, be careful and watch yourself, and love the LORD your God.

The idea of being careful is huge. It is so easy to get distracted. It is so easy for me to run after other stuff and spend my time on things that are not important. It is so easy to lose my focus. But when it all boils down to the basics this is it: Love, obey, and hang on. And if this were to really boil down to one thing it would be: Love the LORD your God. Love covers it all for if we love, we will obey. If we love, we will serve. If we love, we will hang on. If we love, we will walk with Him. If we love, we will cling to Him. If we love, we will not run after other stuff, we will not get distracted, we will not set our affections on other garbage.

And to be honest, this advice needs to be repeated to us over and over and over again. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment." Jesus knew it. Joshua knew it. Do I? Really?