Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 (NRSV)
Read Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 24Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. Verse 2And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors-Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor-lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Verse 14"Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
Verse 15Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Verse 16Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; Verse 17for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; Verse 18and 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."
Devotion
When you eat at a restaurant, the server asks which sides you want with your meal. There are so many choices: fries or baked potato, tossed salad or vegetable of the day. We are asked to make many choices. Some seem easy; some have long-term effects.
As Joshua led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, it was time to make a choice. They could choose to follow idols or affirm their faithfulness to God. It might seem easy to choose the God of Abraham who had brought them from slavery through the Red Sea and 40 years in the wilderness. But the long-term effect of this choice would require obedience and courage.
“Choose this day whom you will serve,” says Joshua. We, too, in affirmation of our baptism, do well to choose this day whom we will serve. On whose side will you stand?
Prayer
O God, you have led me through the wilderness times to trust in your promises. Thank you for the grace and courage to follow you through all the tasks of this day. Let my life be lived to the glory of your holy name. Amen.