Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks
April 13, 2018
Joshua 24:14-15
“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.” 
New International Version (NIV)
                  What does the pattern of our past foretell about our future?  The Israelites had a genetic predisposition to whining.  In a way, we all do.  When the going got tough, the Israelites often fell back in fear.  Their love for God alternately ran hot and cold.

                Joshua had a front row seat to the Israelites spiritual schizophrenia.  So when it came time to leave the world he issued a challenge.  Choose this day whom you will serve.   He gave them a positive example by saying, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”  He did not say this to strengthen the Christian coffee cup industry with a leading slogan for the day.  He assumed spiritual responsibility for his family and promised exclusive devotion to the Lord.

                The Israelites said, “Amen!”  They were all in.  Just like their ancestors they said the right things.  So Joshua pushed back saying, “Don’t take this lightly.  God means business.  If you don’t mean it, don’t say it.  Otherwise God will hold you responsible for failing to keep your promises" (24:18-21).  One last thing he offered to them, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you.” 

                Joshua makes a good point.  The best way to avoid future disobedience is to begin to obey in the present.  What idols need to be torn from our hearts today so that we will love God more than anything?  There is no sense talking about the future if we are educated beyond our level of obedience.  And there is no time like the present to say we will serve the Lord and start doing it.  Ready?  Go!
Pray with me:
Father, thank you for the grace that covers our past failures.  We come from a long line of ancestors.  Like them we pile our sins of idolatry higher and higher.  Many things matter more to us than you.  We swing on the pendulum between the idol of success and the escapism of entertainment.  Today we say we will serve you and love you more than anything.  And so we will, starting now.  You are our witness.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.      
This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
  Joyfully, 
  Duane 
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