Today’s Reading, Joshua 22-24
Focal Scripture: Joshua 23:11 “So diligently watch yourselves! Love the Lord your God!”
How you say farewell speaks volumes about you as a person. Unfortunately, I have had to say farewell a few times in my ministry experience. Sometimes I handled it well and one time I handled it poorly. Even though my heart was pure in what I was doing, the one time I handled it poorly, revealed my immaturity. In my attempt to move from one ministry to another I did not give some of my closest friends and people who took care of me a heads up. I sprung a big change on them and it damaged a great friendship. I learned in that moment that how I say farewell will determine if people hear my farewell address.
In today’s reading Joshua is getting ready to die. Big changes are coming and new leadership will be on the horizon. So before Joshua is gone he gives a passionate and straight forward farewell address. One of the phrases he uses to the people is very powerful. He tells them to diligently watch themselves and to love the Lord their God. Joseph was uniquely aware how the people could turn on God. He witnessed people he cared about give into fear and not follow the Lord. He wanted to warn people in his farewell address.
As I sit here today, I am pondering my farewell address. What would I say if I knew my life was about to be over? First, I would let everyone know that following Jesus is the most important decision they will make. I mean complete and total devotion to the Lord. Passionate belief that makes people uncomfortable. Next, I would tell people to prioritize their families above jobs and even above ministry. I have done both for most of my life and my family has often been put second. I would change that and let others know they are not more important than the people in my household.
So what about you? What would you say during your farewell address? I challenge you today to examine your life and think of what you would say to everyone before your death. Then once you have those words start telling people today. Live your life as if you are not promised tomorrow because we know we aren’t given that guarantee.
We will all have final words in our life. We may have preparation for our deaths or it may happen suddenly. However, at one point we will speak for the last time. Let us be a people who always speak truth in love and season people with what’s most important.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Judges 1-2
