Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 (NRSV)
Read Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 24Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. Verse 2And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors-Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor-lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Verse 14"Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
Verse 15Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Verse 16Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; Verse 17for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; Verse 18and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God."
Devotion
"Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
It is my birthday today, and a good day to reflect on whom I serve. What flashes through my mind are the remarkable people I have met across the country, and world, who are witnesses in their churches and communities. By everything they do and say, they demonstrate whom they have chosen to serve.
For us and for the ancient people of Israel there is always a back-story to that declaration. In their case, God chose them first, freed them from slavery and accompanied them to the Promised Land. What is your back-story? Let us recall and share our own story of God's mighty deeds in our lives and step up with our own "Therefore, we also will serve the Lord."
Prayer
Lord, we can only choose you because you chose us first. Thank you for all the ways you have loved and kept us through all the days of our lives. Amen.