Daily Archives: August 13, 2021

Weekly Devotional 8-16-21 Choose You This Day

Weekly Devotional 8-16-21 Choose You This Day

From the Book of Joshua we read that after the death of Moses Joshua was called by God (Joshua 1:1-9) to lead Israel into and in the Promised Land. In the faithfulness and protection of the Lord, Joshua led the Israelites for approximately 26 years fulfilling that charge (that call). As he approached the end of his life Joshua gave the following challenge, “14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-15).

Throughout the years that Joshua led Israel, he reminded them of all that God had done on their behalf. He had called Abraham, their forefather, out of idolatry and had greatly blessed him by growing his family into the nation they had become. He had brought them out of Egyptian bondage, protected them from Pharoah’s pursuing army, and gave them victory over the Amorites and the Moabites on their way to Canaan (the promised land). In Canaan He gave them victory over seven nations that occupied the Land. Seven nations that were well fortified and protected by great armies. Now at the end of his life he assembled the Israelites together and spoke these words “if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua knew these people well and their proclivity of turning from a true worship of God to worshipping (serving) other gods. From Scripture and from secular history we know their choice, they chose other gods. Even after all that God had done for them, they turned away from Him. There were times of course, because of affliction that they turned back to Him but as soon as the pain of said affliction(s) wore off, or ended, they again turned to those other supposed gods.

As we reflect on the conduct and unfaithfulness of Israel, we should take stock of ourselves, who is that you serve, who is it that I serve? Many times we follow the desires of our old nature and those desires lead us away from a true worship of God or faithful service to Him. The object(s) of that our old nature oftentimes becomes a god to us. We desire those objects more that we desire God. Jesus said, No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

 

Shouldn’t we be like Joshua who said, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15b)?

Steve

 

stevelampman.com

Transforming Power; the Work of God on Behalf of Man

 

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