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24:1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.” 19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” 21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.” 22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. 23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. (Joshua 24:1-3, 14-25 NIV)
A blessed and holy Wednesday to you, kind Friend! I pray God's blessings upon this land and all its inhabitants; may peace be ours for the taking and sharing; may we truly care for one another, especially the needy and underprivileged. It is our duty to love those with no love, care for the uncared for, and show compassion to all people. In that way God's kingdom will be strengthened and made better.
I hated when we had to choose sides when playing competitive sports in gym class. My fear was being picked last when I secretly did not want to be picked. Worse yet was when I was made the chooser and what an ordeal that was after I had picked the known good players. Today we look at a choice that we make daily while being unaware of it. The title of today's devotional says it all. Make a choice and really mean it; for choosing God back, for God chose us first, is important and vital for a blessed life.
Anyone who has made a New Year’s resolution knows how easy it is to declare something bold and then quietly abandon it by February. The gym membership is still active. The treadmill is now a very expensive coat rack.
Joshua is at the end of his life, and he gathers all the tribes of Israel at Shechem for what is essentially a covenant renewal ceremony. He starts by reminding them where they came from. Long ago, their ancestors, including Abraham’s father Terah, lived beyond the Euphrates River and served other gods. Then God took Abraham from that land and led him through Canaan, giving him many descendants. In other words, their story began with God’s initiative, not their own good ideas.
Then Joshua gets to the heart of it: “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.” Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped, he says. And then comes the line that has been stitched onto more wall hangings than I can count: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
I love that Joshua doesn’t wait to see which way the crowd leans. He plants his flag, and he invites them to do the same.
The people respond with great enthusiasm. Far be it from us to forsake the Lord, they say, because He is the One who brought us out of Egypt and protected us along the way. It’s a beautiful speech. And this is where Joshua does something surprising. He pushes back. “You are not able to serve the Lord,” he tells them. He warns that God is holy and jealous, and that if they forsake Him, He will not overlook it.
Why would Joshua dampen the mood? Because he knows how easily a heart makes promises that a life doesn’t keep. He’s not trying to discourage them. He wants their yes to be a real one, not just a burst of excitement. The people insist: “No! We will serve the Lord.” So Joshua says, “You are witnesses against yourselves.” They agree, and he tells them to throw away the foreign gods that are still among them and yield their hearts to the Lord.
Did you catch that? There were still foreign gods in the camp. They were shouting their loyalty to God while holding onto the idols in the closet.
That’s the part that gets me, because I have a few closet idols of my own. Mine rarely look like carved statues. They look like busyness, approval, comfort, or the need to always be in control. We can sing “I surrender all” on Sunday and still keep a few things tucked away just in case.
The invitation here is gentle, though. Joshua doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks for a real choice, made again and again, with eyes wide open. And the God who brought His people out of Egypt is the same God who gives strength to keep choosing Him.
So what might need to leave your closet today?
PRAYER: Faithful and loving God, search my heart for the idols I’ve tucked away, and give me the grace to choose You wholeheartedly today and every day, in Christ Jesus’ strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Today, name one thing competing for first place in your heart, and honestly hand it over to God.
I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! Be a loving servant of all people today.
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
