Even if people haven’t read the book of Joshua, they might know Joshua’s final words to the Israelites before he dies, as they began to fully take over the land of Israel.
“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.
Now 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” (Joshua 24:14-15).
In our YouTube videos and this blog, I’ve often discussed the temptation to mix the world’s idols with Christianity. It’s extremely hazardous and difficult to avoid.
Joshua’s words are a clear warning that we must make every effort to distance ourselves from our culture’s idols and fully embrace our faith.
Everyone has different idols that tempt them. The best way I know to resist idolatry in American culture is to let God’s word touch our mind, heart, and actions every day. God will show us what we need to change, what to avoid, and what actions to take.
We shouldn’t overlook Joshua’s emphasis on choosing who to serve. Do we know who we’re serving? Have we decided to serve the Lord daily? These are important questions to ask ourselves.
A Superficial Response
The Israelites declared their faithfulness to God. But if we turn the page from Joshua to Judges, we see that their desire to serve God was only superficial.
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for 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, 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” (Joshua 24:16-18).
I don’t know if you’re like me, but here’s my experience. I’ve had several profound moments of God’s grace. Sometimes, it was during prayer, and other times, I witnessed something only God could do in the ministry I was part of.
These moments made me want to declare my faithfulness and love for God sincerely.
However, not long after, I would be tempted and fall back into doing things my way, ignoring God. Then, I’d have to start the process of repentance and devotion all over again.
This is similar to the story of Israel. They declare their faithfulness now, but later on, they won’t stick to it.
You Can’t Serve the Lord
I’m taking verse 19 out of context for my next point. Our YouTube video will place this verse in its proper context.
But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins” (Joshua 24:19).
Joshua is right when he tells the people they can’t serve the Lord. He is holy and jealous, and their sins will always be a barrier between them and God.
In Romans 7, Paul struggled with the fact that he, much like the Israelites before him, couldn’t keep God’s commandments.
For I know that the good does not dwell within me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do the good lies close at hand, but not the ability.
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me (Romans 7:18-20).
Paul ended his wrestling match between God’s law and his flesh with a cry of desperation.
Wretched person that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24).
Despair was not the last word for Paul, and it doesn’t have to be the last word for us, too. Jesus came to set us free from the power of sin and give us an abiding relationship with the Lord.
Spend a few minutes considering Paul’s words of victory and the path God gave him to victory. Ask God to help you follow what you learn from Paul’s message.
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
So that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 7:25 and 8:1-4).
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Joshua 24 on YouTube today.
Real Voices 