#DailyDevotion Who Will You Serve Today?
June 6th
Read Josh 24:1–31
Jos 24:16-24 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, (17) for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. (18) And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” (19) But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. (20) If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” (21) And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” (22) Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” (23) He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (24) And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
Joshua recounts the history of the Israelites. It includes all the ways the Lord their God has blessed them. Having concluded his gospel he declares that he and his household will serve the Lord only. He tells them if they will serve the Lord they need to get rid of their other gods since the Lord is a jealous God. The people respond to the gospel, the good news of the Lord’s salvation of them and their deliverance into the promised land with shouts of the same which Joshua spoke.
He tells them they can’t possibly serve the Lord. He will not put up with rivals. He warns them about what will happen to them if they say they will serve the Lord and then turn the back on him and serve other gods. This does not deter them. They pledge all the more to serve the Lord.
I’m certain they were sincere. They were just as sincere as many who are brought to the Lord Jesus Christ, are saved by him and then they pronounce their loyalty to him. Yet many, like the Israelites eventually turn away. They are enticed by other gods. What other gods entice us away from Jesus? Pride, self-esteem, alcohol, drugs, sex, laziness, the bed, golf-course, kids, wife, husband, fishing, secular humanism, science, money and wealth and ad infinitum. Whatever can capture our hearts, it often does.
Of course we don’t always completely turn away. Like the Israelites who had their household gods and also worshipped the Lord as well, many of us serve these other gods alongside worshipping Jesus. But Jesus is jealous for us! He will not allow these things to worshipped alongside him. He will turn us over to them until they turn on us and we turn to him for help. Jesus will be there to help us. But will we accept his help? Better with his help just to get rid of those attachments to those gods today and trust only in Jesus.
Lord Jesus Christ, unless you grant it to us, we cannot turn away from trusting other gods. Grant us such faith in you that we trust only in you for all things in all our life and use created things properly for the purposes you have created them. Amen.