Devotion 04 November 2026

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.  ----  Then they would put their trust in the God. Psalm 78: 4, 7a

READING: Joshua 24: 14-15, 19-22, 24

Now that the Israelites have settled in the promised land, Israel, Joshua challenges them three times as to whether they will serve the Lord God.  He has delivered them from slavery in Egypt, has shown them many miraculous signs that He was providing for them and protecting them throughout their journey through the desert.  He gave them a code by which to live, the ten Commandments.  He enabled them to cross the Red Sea and the River Jordan on dry land.  And yet they are tending towards worshipping other gods and God will not accept this.  Joshua warns them that God will not accept this behaviour.  Joshua says, “He is a holy God; He is a jealous God,  He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.  If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you.”  God does not change from one era to another.  His mercy is present in the Book of Joshua as He is in the Gospels of the New Testament.  God requires of us to commit our lives to Him and to acknowledge where we have gone wrong.  Joshua challenges them three times to commit themselves only to God.  He says, “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods of your forefathers.” – “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Verses 14a +15a)  Joshua declares that he and his family will serve the Lord.  Serving God entails a commitment to follow the ethics of God and seek after the well being of all in their community.  God is offering the Israelites through Joshua, restitution and a fresh start.  The people must answer for themselves.  This is a covenant renewal for the people of Israel.  The message applies to us Christians today, to commit our lives to the Lord Jesus.  We read in 1 Thessalonians 5 : 16, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  And verse 23, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Prayer

Most Holy God, may my choice to love and serve You and You only, be my commitment to You today.  May my life be a witness to others around me.  May they see You through my life.  Amen