"Pay Attention"

Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23.11)

Are you paying attention to how you live?

Israel had finally entered the Promised Land, and Joshua was giving his farewell speech. He reminded Israel that their victories were from God. Many wicked nations had been conquered, but the survivors posed a threat. Joshua warned Israel to love God and reject the idols and culture of the wicked nations. If Israel turned away from God, they would face their battles alone. The temptations to sin were all around. What could Israel do to have victory? They had to take heed to themselves. Everyone had to pay attention to their individual lives.

Temptations are still all around. Distractions are ever present, and many people just float through life. We know we should love God. As Christians, we even say that we love God, but what do our lives look like? Jesus said that the love of God is shown by obedience to His commands (John 14.15). We need to pay careful attention to our lives. If we are disobeying God, we are not showing Him love. If we are disobeying God, we will not have victories in our life. Are you rejecting the idols and wicked culture that surrounds you? Pay attention and repent of any sins.

Do your actions, thoughts, and words show that you love God? Take careful heed to yourself. Battles are real, but our conquering King is undefeated. Do not settle for the world’s standards. Submit to the transforming power of God (Romans 12.2). Pay attention to your life.

God, I thank You for showing me how to live. Please give me divine perspective as I pay attention to my life. Empower me through Your Holy Spirit to reject the world’s values and to be transformed. Thank You for giving me the victory. Help me to pay attention to my life, repent of any sins, and to love You more. Amen.

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Pay Attention | Joshua 23.11
Weekly Bible Devotional

Written and Produced By:
Reverend David Lyda
Little Stevens Creek Baptist Church
Edgefield, SC

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.