The Decision (Josh. 24:14-18)

11/26/2009 10:39 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  Decision

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Joshua 24:14-18

 

            Message of the verses:  “14  "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

    15 ¶  "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 16  The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17  for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18  "The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.’”

            According to Warren Wiersbe this is the third important topic that Joshua spoke of during the two addresses he made to Israel before he died.  This third topic is entitled “Israel’s present responsibilities and today’s SD covers the first part of this and it is called “Decision,” for there was a decision that these children of Israel had to make, and there is also a decision that I have to make.

            Joshua 24:15 is one of the most know verses in the whole book of Joshua along with Joshua 1:8  “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

            Joshua in this address tells the people that as for he and his household they will serve the Lord and then asks the people who they will serve and they say that they too will serve the Lord and give reasons why.  The Lord brought them out of Egypt and He cared for them while in the wilderness, and then the Lord defeated the people who were in the Promised Land by using the children of Israel. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Wiersbe points out that this theme of asking the children of Israel who they will serve weaves it way throughout the OT.  The question is whether to serve the Lord or to serve idols, because all people serve one or the other for mankind has to worship something.

            I came to a cross roads a number of months ago when I believed that I was to get rid of the cable from my TV and then buy a new antenna in order to watch the stations that come in through the air that are available in this area.  I have not done it yet and there is more trouble brewing and I need to make the move soon, just as Joshua asks the question of whom I will serve.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. Make plans to get rid of the cable.

 

11/26/2009 11:06 AM