“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve…” Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
In Joshua 24, the Israelites were assembled for a ‘spiritual checkup,’ and no one was exempted. In verse 14, they were admonished to put away the gods their fathers had served previously and serve the Lord in sincerity and truth in this new season. They had to make a personal decision concerning who they would serve. Joshua spoke to the people as their leader. As an individual, he had already made a decision for himself and those of his household; his position and pronouncement was “me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Verse 15).
Why is there a need for a ‘spiritual checkup’? In life, sometimes, when we achieve plenty and attain a particular level of success, we enjoy all the comforts life affords. We can become callous and forget where we came from and who helped us along the way. Thus, we consciously or unconsciously delete God and others from the picture. Joshua, as a great leader, led by example. His declaration implied that he and his family would submit their lives to the Lord to be led and guided by Him. He did not forget his God.
Beloved, the decision made by Joshua had a positive impact on both his present and future generations. Like Joshua, the best choice we can make for ourselves and for our loved ones is to surrender to Jesus Christ and accept Him as our personal Lord and Saviour and encourage others to do the same. If you have done so before and have strayed away from purpose, repent and recommit your life to Jesus today. This act of obedience will contribute significantly to you leaving a legacy of godliness for your descendants.
Read: 1 Samuel 12:24; Romans 6:13
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 32; Mark 15:33-47; Leviticus 23; Leviticus 24
Amen and Amen.