Hold Fast
Hello Bride of Christ,
Has anyone ever given you advice that has helped guide you through many seasons of your life? The advice was so profound that you have even passed it along to others you encounter in a similar crossroads in their life. If not, you might find yourself right now either about to embark on a new season, complete a season, or trying to endure a season and you find yourself in need of advice. Well today is your day because the Lord has given us some fabulous advice, that we should hold onto for the rest of our days!
Using your creative imagination, see Joshua calling the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh and all the people walking to gather to hear what Joshua, their leader is about to say to them. Then you hear Joshua say, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. You have not left your brethren these many days, up to this day, but you have kept the charge of the commandments of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Joshua 22:2-5) Then you see Joshua bless them and send them away, and the people depart to their tents.
Did you catch the advice?
Similar to a graduation ceremony, Joshua commends the tribes for their obedience and their job well done. He reminds the people of all the things they have done well: keeping all that Moses commanded, obeying all that Joshua commanded, sticking by their brethren, and keeping charge of all the Lord commanded them. Joshua tells them what all their obedience has earned them, the rest of the Lord. Then, as all great leaders sending off their people, he leaves them with great advice: “But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Although the tribes had shown that they were willing, able, and great at following the commands, Joshua still felt it necessary to remind them of being intentional to obey and acknowledge God in everything. Joshua did not want the change of geography (the other side of the Jordan), or the change of community (since they would be away from the other tribes), or the change of leadership (they were going out on their own) to deter or distract them from the main thing that made them who they were, and that was the way they loved God, walked in His ways, kept His commandments, held to Him, and served Him with all their heart an with all their soul.
Bride of Christ, the Lord encourages you today with the same advice. Regardless of what part of the journey you are on, He desires for you to continue to love Him, walk in His ways, keep His commandments, hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and soul for these practices are not bound to location, community, or circumstance, but are a reflection of your heart. In the New Testament Jesus writes a letter which expresses the same advice, for we truly serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:5) Here Jesus is raising the church’s awareness that they have left their first love. He is desiring for them to return to loving Him, their first works. Therefore, if you find yourself faithful as the Reubenites or needing to repent as the church of Ephesus, Jesus calls you today to love Him and hold fast to Him. As Joshua encouraged his people, I encourage you today, “But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
