As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
In his last great speech, Joshua laid a choice before each individual in the nation of Israel—choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Either the gods of Egypt, the gods of their new land, or the Lord who led them to where they stood. The people responded enthusiastically for the Lord and placed a large stone as a witness of their commitment.
Joshua committed to serving the Lord regardless of what came next. He committed to a dogged faith, committed to clinging to the Lord despite tragedy and hard times. His promise also extended to times of prosperity and peace, when it’s easy to forget the Lord and turn to self-congratulation.
Joshua’s line in the sand served his family and his generation well. They stayed close to the Lord and followed his ways. The following generation not so much. They eased into the faith on their fathers and mothers, missed the firm personal commitment to serve the Lord and stumbled badly.
Our faith stands only one generation deep. We each decide for ourselves if we will serve the Lord with all the grit and determination required, or allow ourselves and our families to drift into chaotic streams of our world’s desires and priorities.
Will I serve the Lord and follow his Word, or will I give in to the latest prevailing notions of the culture we swim in?
Will I serve the Lord or will I serve the gods all around me?
Will I serve the Lord or will I compromise?
Joshua’s challenge rings in my ears today—choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. My answer? As best I can, I will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022
Photo by Jon Tyson
Thanks Dave, me too