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. Joshua 24:15
When we see God intervene in the history of ancient Israel, that very same God is here now. He is intervening in our lives and in our moments of history.
Joshua calls the people to make a choice.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:7-8
God tells Joshua over and over in this book to be strong and courageous.
The written word of God is our anchor. We are to:
1. Talk about it
2. Meditate or think on it
3. Practice it. Do it
We have choices to make in our day to day, sometimes, hour to hour, lives.
Who do you trust?
Who will you serve?
God is with us and can be trusted!
So we find throughout the entire book of Joshua an emphasis on choice - choice that makes a tremendous difference in history - for individuals, for groups, for future generations.
Francis Schaeffer
Read
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age". Matthew 28:20
Reflect
What does it look like for us today to "worship other gods"?
"Our choices define our lives". Discuss that statement and how you have found that to play out in your own life.
How can we keep God's word always on our lips? Talk about it, think on it and do it.
How do we tend to treat God's word like a buffet?
Do
Choose a reading plan or passage to meditate on this week. Practice what it means to meditate on God's Word.
Go Deeper
Discuss this idea of blessing and cursing. The sacrifice for sinners was done on the "mountain of curses". How is that significant for us today?