Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 22
Tuesday


CHOOSE
YOUR GOD

READ:
Joshua 24:14-18
_______________________________

Choose for yourselves
this day whom you will
serve.... But as for
me and my house, we
will serve the LORD.
__Joshua 24:15
_________________________________

I recently saw a commercial for an
online game based on Greek
mythology. It spoke about armies,
mythological gods, heroes, and quests.
What got my attention was the
description of how to get the game
started. You go online to register,
choose your god, then build your
empire.

Wow! "Choose your god." Those
words, though presented casually in
the ad, struck me as being characteris-
tic of one of the most dangerous
things about our world. In a game, it
may be insignificant what "god" you
choose; but in the real world that
choice has eternal consequences.

To a generation of Israelites sur-
rounded by the gods of their day,
Joshua declared that they must choose their god--but it
must not be done in a cavalier way. He set the example as he
said, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose
land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve
the LORD" (Josh. 24:15).

Today, as in the days of Joshua, there are many options. But
there is only one wise choice--the true God. Joshua made
the right choice. "We will serve the LORD." __Bill Crowder
________________________________________________________

The gods of this world are empty and vain,
They cannot give peace to one's heart;
The living and true One deserves all our love--
From Him may we never depart. __D. DeHaan
_________________________________________________________

Nothing can fill the emptiness
in your heart except God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Today's Bible Reading __ Joshua 24:14-18~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

14 Now therefore, fear the
Lord, serve Him in
sincerity and in truth, and
put away the gods which
your fathers served on the
other side of the River and
in Egypt. Serve the Lord!

15 If it seems evil to you to
serve the LORD, choose for
yourselves this day whom
you will serve, whether the
gods which your fathers
served that were on the
other side of the River, or
the gods of the Amorites in
whose land you dwell. But
as for me an my house,
we will serve the LORD."

16 So the people answered
and said: "Far be it from us
that we should forsake the
LORD to serve other gods;

17 for the LORD our God is
He who brought us and our
fathers up out of the land of
Egypt, from the house of
bondage, who did those
great signs in our sight, and
preserved us in all the way
that we went and among all
the people through whom
we passed. 18 And the LORD
drove out from before us all
the people, including the
Amorites who dwelt in the
land. We also will serve the
LORD, for He is our God."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Joshua led the Israelites to the Promised Land. In his farewell speech
(Josh. 22-24), he reminded the people that to successfully settle
and prosper in the land, they must remain faithful to God. Joshua
recounted God's gracious deeds (24:2-13), and in response, the
people were to serve the the Lord (v.14). The word serve is used 11
times in verses 14-24. To serve God means to fear Him, obey Him,
and worship Him. We face the same decision that the Israelites
faced: In light of God's deeds, whom will we serve?