“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15, ESV
These words spoken by Joshua to the people of Israel as they were in the Promised Land and having witnessed God’s visible presence over the Tabernacle and His hand in many victories over their enemies seem strange to me, but, in truth, are these not the words that speak to us of our condition today. I have witnessed people healed of disease after much prayer and God’s intervention go from crying out for God’s mercy and making great promises to God only to walk away. We are faced with various gods in our day-to-day. We see the downfall of people searching for escape from the miseries of this world. We watch as the world forgets God and often speak words of criticism only to walk down other paths that lead away from God’s word. I saw a meme that I think said it best, “One thing missing from the Bible is your opinion.” How true of a statement. God doesn’t want our opinion, but He desires our faithfulness. When He called the people of Israel to conquer all their enemies and spare nothing for themselves, what did they do? Spare those things that they thought were savable and what happened? The people of Israel fell into idolatry and forgot God. Joshua’s words are a reminder, who will you serve? The One true God or the gods of the world? We can only serve One master, who will it be?
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.