Scripture:
Joshua 24:14-15 NKJV
[14] “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! [15] 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.”
Observation:
Joshua was one of the 2 courageous spies that had entered into the land of Canaan to get an idea of what the land looked like and how easy it was going to be to conquer. Not only did he enter, but he also brought back a positive report. One that coincides with what the LORD had said. He not only trusted that what the LORD said was true, but he believed in and worshiped the LORD. After Moses had died, Joshua was placed in his position. He was now the leader of GOD’S chosen people and the spokesman for the LORD. After realizing all the problems that Moses had with these stiffnecked people. He stood in front of them to give them a choice. All the false GOD that they had worshiped on the other side of the Jordan River should remain on the other side of the Jordan River. They had crossed over and left it behind for a reason. It just didn’t work. Standing here in front of the people facing all the same problems that Moses had faced. Joshua addressed them and set before them a choice much like Moses did in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 30. When he called heaven and earth as a witness against them. The people now stood there with Joshua looking at basically the very same choice. Butvwhat went wrong why w were they having to be given what seems to be the very same speech. Joshua was a great leader, brave, mighty, obedient, and smart. Giving them the choice to leave the GOD’S of their past behind and step into a future with the creator of heaven and earth. Joshua then makes the statement that a leader should make. Leading by example. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Drawing the hard line and setting the standard. Basically, saying this is what I am doing, and if you are going to follow me, this is the choice you have to make. There is no in-between. You either do or you don’t, but it’s the choice that you have to make.
Application:
It’s hard to let go of years of conditioning. Most of us when we come to the LORD truly want to throw in the towl and surrender. But instead of going all in, we tear it into little pieces and throw it in bit by bit. But how good would life be if we were. Able to just set the past down and step into the future with GOD. It’s easier said than done for a lot of us. The gods of addiction depression and anxiety want to hold on so tight it feels like we can never honestly break free from them. The conditioning for our parents and the things they did don’t let go easily. But it’s a hard stand we have to make. We can not take our past into our future with GOD. We have to set down what we know and step into what we don’t know. It may be odd, and we may be unsure, but it has to be done. throwing in the towl bit by bit. Will work, but it only prolongs the pain and discomfort of getting rid of things that you don’t need because you have lied to yourself, saying that you do. The LORD YAHWAH is a jealous GOD. HE does not want your attention devided. HE wants all of you and will stop at nothing to get it. I know that drawing a hard line is not easy, and honestly, it took me about 7 years to realize that’s what needed to happen. I wanted to believe that I could live one way and profess another. The number one causes of atheism today is people who profess Jesus Christ as their LORD and live as though HE is not. Putting other things in front of HIM. Making decisions based on what they have done in their past and forgetting the HE is concerned about their future. We have to leave what we used to worship behind. You can’t serve 2 masters.. it will never work. My suggestion is… throw the whole towl in all at once. It’s a lot less painful serve GOD and GOD alone. You will find the path is much easier to walk when you keep your focus on HIM and let go of the gods of your past. Have they benefited you. Have they brought you anything that was good. Here is what Joshua was saying. If you want to go into the promised land and hold onto it, you have to put down what will steal your focus from the LORD. Walking on water was easy as long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus. Don’t lose your focus when something is pointed out by the Holy Spirit. Remove it. Don’t wait. Don’t try to hold onto it. Just drop it like a hot rock.
Prayer:
Father, you know our hearts. We ask that you would bring the light. If there is something that we are holding onto that is making it difficult for us to get to where you are taking us, help us to see it. We want you and you alone. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. That is the stand we have made, and that’s what we want to be seen. In our lives. We do not want the gods of addiction, depression, anxiety, fear, worry, and all those other things to follow us to where you are trying to take us. We are drawing a hard line. In our hearts and in our homes, as for me and my life, it belongs to the LORD. Surrender is nessesrey if you want to be a part of it. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.