Gracious Words...

but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. —Joshua 23:8

May we cleave unto the Lord our God and continue with Him with purpose of heart...delighting, depending and devoting ourselves to His desires.   Make us shine as lights, Father, bearing fruit by Jesus Christ as we walk through this dark world.  However, this morning it was the second part of this verse that really spoke to my heart.

“but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God AS YOU HAVE DONE UNTO THIS DAY”

Note how gracious the Spirit of God is speaking through Joshua here given the children of Israel’s erratic history!  What an example to me of thinking the best about people.  His words impart grace to the hearers,  they edify.

The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;—Ecclesiastes 10:12

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"—Luke 4:22

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.—Philippians 4

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen—Hebrews 13:20-21