Joshua 23 & 24: Serving The LORD
Verse of the Day: (24:15) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
1. Souls (23:1-16)
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. (23:14)
What matters most is where you will go after you die. You may not believe in God, and you may think that death is final, but what happen if there is a God, and that you have a soul, and your soul will either go to God’s heaven or the devil’s hell. Indeed, there is a God, and when we believe in Him, we shall not die, but our souls shall live forever in glorious heaven. However, if we reject God, our souls will be condemned in hell because of our sins and wrongdoings. Joshua came to the end of his life story, and he truly believed with all his heart and soul that when he would depart from this earth, he shall be promoted to heaven to be with his God forever. In his last words, he encouraged Israel to keep loving and serving God, as His promises never fail, not even once. (Mark 8:34-38)
2. Serve (24:1-15)
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. (24:14)
Unless we serve God with sincerity and truth and as living sacrifices, He shall never accept our service. Joshua’s last challenge to Israel was that they must choose to serve God, and put away their idols, including their career and family, or anything that, or anyone who, stood between God and them. Indeed, God desires us to seek Him first and love Him with all our hearts because He first loves us, and gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins, so that we shall have everlasting lives with Him in heaven. (Romans 12:1)
3. Servant (24:16-33)
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (24:29)
God’s servant is one who serves Him sincerely until the day He calls him home. Joshua was God’s servant as he served Him without wavering to the end. Israel was indeed blessed by his testimony, and they too served God to the end. Let us leave a legacy of service to God so that our next generation will also serve Him like us. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to serve You until the day You call me home to heaven.
