March 17 "Last Words" Joshua 22:2

 to be known ... yet not loved

where someone can flit away like the beautiful butterfly they were

and never return to my life ...

what do i do with that love?

There is Something about someone's Last Words that make you lean in to listen long.  It is the final words of Joshua, the leader who did make it into the Promised Land.  "And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them; therefore turn now and go to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan. Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Joshua 22:2-4.  No flitting away.  Keep coming back.

Rest. As God speaks, He gives rest.  Oh, to have ears wide open that hear Him above the noise of what swirls in our head.  How do we talk to ourselves?  
Go. What God has given you, embrace.  Go to the land of your possession.  What we need more than anything is to Love the LORD our God and love those God has given to us.  

What does Love look like?  "To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial."  Love is willing to bear all things with your family, your friends.  Love is willing to move into their lives for their good.  Where there is competing desires, God calls us to love deeper.  "To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.  It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us."  Tim Keller

PRAYER FROM PSALMS
May the mountains that God has given all of us to work bring good, the hills the fruit of righteousness.  Psalm 72:3  Thank you, O God, that Love and Truth have met together; Righteousness and Peace have kissed.  Please help us to maneuver the mountains rather than manipulate our way.  May we long for the Beauty!