One Little Word Says it All

Have you ever thought about the significance of the word all? It has only three letters, but it carries huge significance. For instance, take a look at Joshua 21:43-22:5.

• The Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors (v. 43).
• The Lord helped them conquer all their enemies (v. 44).
• All of the good promises that the Lord had given Israel came true (v. 45).
• Joshua commanded the Israelites to be very careful to obey all the commands and the law that Moses had given them (v. 5).
• Joshua commanded the Israelites to love the Lord their God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, be faithful to him, and serve him with all their heart and all their soul (22:5).

As I read this passage, I circled the word all so I could grasp its significance. What did I learn? For starters, the Lord doesn’t leave a job half-finished, nor is He a God who commits half-hearted to His people. He fulfilled all His promises and defeated all the Israelites’ enemies.

Because He never changes, I can count on Him to defeat all my enemies and fulfill all His promises to me today, too. I can expect that from Him because of who He is. So what does He expect from me? An obedient heart to obey all His commands, and a commitment to love Him with all my heart and all my soul. (If I truly love Him like that, then obedience shouldn’t be so hard, should it?).

It’s a two-way, totally committed relationship. The Lord is wholly devoted to us, and His longing is for us to return that devotion without reservation. Nothing half-hearted here! Are we ready for commitment to that degree? We ought to be, considering all that Jesus has done for us.

“God, thank You for giving Yourself to us completely. Please give us hearts to love You without reservation in return. Amen.”