Day 4

January 12

Larry & Janita Goldman

Joshua 24:14-16

Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Then the people answered, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!

The people of Israel have seen God part the Red Sea, send manna every day and destroy the walls of Jericho. Yet they cling to old gods from their traditions and adopted new gods of their neighbors.

The people of Israel also experienced the reality of life – births and deaths, sickness and sorrow, jealousy and hate. God called them through Joshua to look beyond the worries of this world to the promise of serving a God powerful and loving enough to save them from slavery and remain with them as they wandered in the wilderness and invaded the promised land.

They had God’s presence in the tabernacle. We have God’s presence within us through the Holy Spirit given to those who believe in Jesus’ forgiveness of our sins. Will we be faithful to the promise that God provides for our eternal life or cling to traditions, worries, and grievances of this world that take us from God’s loving presence?

Throughout the ages, God has demonstrated His power and love through signs and wonders yet we turn toward the worries and lures of the world and away from God. Through all this time and throughout our individual lives, God never gives up on us. ”Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13)

God calls us to be devoted to Him because this is in our best interest. God created us to live with Him forever. The opportunity to live in God’s presence is the promise of heaven, the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

Now fear the Lord and serve him will all faithfulness.

Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for your faithfulness throughout the ages, for the freedom to enjoy your presence through Jesus. Help us to see the truth of our purpose and completeness is serving You.

Amen.