Joshua 22:5; 23:8, 11 NASB

"...love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and server Him with all your heart and with all your soul... you are to cling to the LORD your God...take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God."

As Joshua comes toward the end of his life, the very theme that was on Moses' heart is on his heart for the children of Israel, and he simply reiterates it:

• Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
• Walk in all His ways with all your heart and with all your soul
• Keep His commandments with all your heart and with all your soul
• Hold fast to Him with all your heart and with all your soul
• Serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul

The children of Israel had fought many battles and gained much territory, but after every battle has been fought, with whatever advances have been made, and if there is anything we can claim, only one thing matters to God:

• "Did you love Me with all your heart and with all your soul?"
• "Did you walk in all My ways with all your heart and with all your soul?"
• "Did you keep My commandments with all your heart and with all your soul?"
• "Did you hold fast to Me with all your heart and with all your soul?"
• "Did you serve Me with all your heart and with all your soul?"

In the Christian world, where we exalt spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, and achievements, and where we expend a lot of energy trying to prove our worth, we can begin to substitute performance for purity, religion for relationship and loyalty for love.  Now there's a boring combination for you!  No wonder many yawn when they watch us "worship".  The fact is, with a burning, holy love for God, these substitutes will only accumulate dust in the trophy case of our lives, where they will prove insignificant or finally be completely forgotten.  Though some may keep trying to prove otherwise, only one thing matters. Only one thing my friend!  The only thing that brings life, joy and beauty to any relationship: "cling to the LORD your God and take diligent heed to love the LORD your God."