Today's Reading:

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Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.
Joshua 24:14

Israel was urged to revere the Lord deeply and devote themselves fully to truthful obedience, without any idols or serving other gods. I want to break down the three main words in the sentence to focus on the deeper meaning of the verse.

• Fear: This is not terror, but reverent awe, and deep respect to God’s holiness and authority. We are to submit and obey Him because He is holy and just.
• Serve: To be devoted to God as a servant. We are to have total allegiance and obey Him by giving our lives in worship with our actions.
• Faithfulness: Sincere and reliable. We are to serve God with loyal and steadfast commitment.

Over the last week of chapters, Joshua told of God’s faithful history from Abraham to the Exodus, through the Promised Land, and giving the enemies' land to the 12 tribes of Israel. Joshua had challenged the people to reject the foreign pagan gods and to keep their focus on the one true God. This led to the famous verse 24:15 “Choose this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”), with the people responding to commit their faithfulness. In verse 14, the call to fear, serve faithfully, and to put away idols set the tone for loyalty, which contrasted with the incomplete obedience as seen in the book of Judges, where Israel failed to fully drive out the Canaanites. Joshua’s plea to the people was for gratitude in God’s past deliverance, and he demanded devotion without excuses or compromises.

In today’s world, serving the Lord with all our heart means to live with complete devotion to God- revering Him above all else, aligning each part of your life (heart, mind, actions, priorities) with His will. We are to pursue Him first, and without distractions at all costs. Our everyday actions should serve Him through ourselves towards others with love, generosity, and kindness. Through seeking Him and choosing to obey, we are then energized with joy and gratitude for what Christ has done for us rather than feeling obligated. Let each and every choice in your life be guided by God’s love, whether in quiet prayers, at home, or amongst others, for all to see Jesus through your faithfulness.

Today's discussion question: 

What’s one area of your life where you have felt divided in loyalty or subtle compromise has crept in? What would it look like this week to “put it away” and serve the Lord with renewed sincerity and truth?

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