Daily Devotion, March 10, 2021

Devotion:

Read Joshua 24:14-15.

Joshua’s imperative to “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” is as timely today as it was in Old Testament times. Joshua has recounted all the times and ways God had delivered them to bring them to the Promised Land. This was a time of a new beginning and a time to remember God’s covenant of faithfulness unto them.

Joshua’s charge to them highlights loyalty and professions of loyalty of the people unto God. Many commentaries summarize this chapter with the word, “loyalty” because that is a word we understand. But it is interesting that the word “loyalty” is not the word which Joshua employs to convey his message to the people. In the context of a covenant relationship with God, Joshua calls the people to “choose whom you will serve”. Jesus recalls this phrase, “whom you serve” several times in the New Testament.

A testament to our words of loyalty and devotion is evidenced by our actions of service. We have the opportunity to choose today and everyday whom we will serve. Joshua’s instructions called the people to let go of the gods of their former lands and their ancestors.

We too must examine that which calls our loyalty away from God. It may not be the little statues of the Old Testament, but examining where our time, money and energy go can open our eyes to the little gods which we have allowed to shift our loyalties away from the Living God.

The first of the Ten Commandments is, “you shall have no other gods before me.”  Joshua is calling the people then and now back to this first commandment. The Living God gives us life, saves us and redeems us!

Often the call to be loyal and serve God calls us away from following the crowd. Also, it often calls us to love and serve the least, the lost and the last. We have the example of Christ as he lived a life of service unto others. We are called into a life of prayer and worship and God equips us to go forth to serve others.

Personal Worship Option:

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Reflect on this one day. What parts of your day will reflect or reflected your greatest loyalty? Reflect and give thanks, as Joshua did for the people, for all the ways in which God has been and is faithful and loyal unto you.