I have devoted great energy, time, and thought to different endeavors over the course of my life. I have served myself, companies and enterprises and even other people. When I was a late teen and twenty something… I made the commitment to serve the living God… the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Son, Jesus. I became a Christian.
As people, we are hard-wired to worship something or someone. The great military and spiritual leader of Israel named Joshua knew this. Before he died, he gave blessings, instructions and warnings to his people. He challenged them to be faithful to God, who had been faithful to them. There is an ongoing exercise of our faith to worship the invisible God who is very much real and active in our lives and exchange him for something or someone else. Let’s determine afresh that He alone will we worship. Interesting to me is that Joshua was apparently leading his own family spiritually (he said ‘me and my house’) Far too often we forsake our role as parents to be spiritual mentors to our children. At this point, Joshua would have had grandchildren and possible great grandchildren. What a joy it is to see your spiritual legacy lived out through them!
When you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and you go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from the good land which He has given you. Joshua 23:16 NASB But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 NASB
What foreign gods have I allowed to capture my attention or affection? How can I ensure I am worshiping God and God alone?
God, as this day begins- I commit to serve You and You alone, first and foremost. I take heed to the admonishment of Joshua and will reject foreign gods. For me it is perfectly agreeable to do so because I have found fellowship with You and Your people. I pray that my children and grandchildren enjoy the same relationship and the blessings that I do.
