Read Joshua 24

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of 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)

What a statement by Israel's leader! Joshua's words have been repeated and enshrined for millenniums by the people of God. Even today, these words remain a popular centerpiece on the table or a readable plaque above the door in the Christian home. And rightly so, for they are words of faith and devotion in the true and living God.

We know these words are fitting for the character of Joshua. He had real faith in God. He had been serving the LORD faithfully for decades, first under Moses and now as the commander of a nation going into the Promised Land. He alone, with Caleb, believed God to give Israel the Promised Land when all others murmured and doubted. It was Joshua who remained at the tabernacle of meeting with the LORD while Israel whined, and it was Joshua who worshipped at the mountain of Sinai while Israel corrupted themselves with the golden calf.

Yes indeed! Joshua was a man who served the LORD. These words were both the description and prescription of his life!

But are these words descriptive of us? Are they prescriptive of our life?

We have to understand that for Joshua, these words are rooted deep into the very conviction of his soul. Regardless of the corruption that his own nation may fall into, he was committed to being an outsider. He was ready to break from his own people, and be slandered as a fool. All Joshua ever needed was the LORD.

Joshua's heart reminds me of the Apostle Paul's, who said —

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8)

Dear church, I pray that we would take the words of Joshua off of our walls and embed them into our hearts. I pray that Christ would be enough for us, His people, in every and all circumstances. Though family betray us, and friends turn away from us, and our culture scorn us, and our health pain us — may Christ be our all in all!

Let nothing turn your attention away from His face. Look unto Him always, and serve your Redeemer, for in Him is abundant life and pleasures forevermore!

“Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

“[Be] not lagging in diligence, [but] fervent in spirit, serving the Lord...” (Romans 12:11)

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