Friday, June 23, 2023

¹⁶ The people answered, “We’d never forsake God! Never! We’d never leave God to worship other gods. ^17-18 “God is our God! He brought up our ancestors from Egypt and from slave conditions. He did all those great signs while we watched. He has kept his eye on us all along the roads we’ve traveled and among the nations we’ve passed through. Just for us he drove out all the nations, Amorites and all, who lived in the land.  “Count us in: We too are going to worship God. He’s our God.” ^19-20 Then Joshua told the people: “You can’t do it; you’re not able to worship God. He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He won’t put up with your fooling around and sinning. When you leave God and take up the worship of foreign gods, he’ll turn right around and come down on you hard. He’ll put an end to you – and after all the good he has done for you!” ²¹ But the people told Joshua: “No! No! We worship God!” ²² And so Joshua addressed the people: “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen God for yourselves – to worship him.”  And they said, “We are witnesses.” ²³ Joshua said, “Now get rid of all the foreign gods you have with you. Say an unqualified Yes to God, the God of Israel.” ²⁴ The people answered Joshua, “We will worship God. What he says, we’ll do.” ^25-26 Joshua completed a Covenant for the people that day there at Shechem. He made it official, spelling it out in detail. Joshua wrote out all the directions and regulations into the Book of The Revelation of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak that was in the holy place of God. ²⁷ Joshua spoke to all the people: “This stone is a witness against us. It has heard every word that God has said to us. It is a standing witness against you lest you cheat on your God.” ²⁸ Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own place of inheritance.

       You will have no gods before Me.  Hoarding seems to be human nature, especially in the west.  We don’t like to throw things away; we prefer to add things to the things we already have.  We see the same in our commitment to God, our Creator and Deliverer. Many today seek to add God to their already packed lives.  They don’t turn from their other “gods” and serve God alone; they continue to serve their other “gods” and add a little God onto it.  Many of the “gods” we serve do not require exclusivity.  The world doesn’t care if Christians worship God in addition to their many “gods”.  That’s perfectly fine.  However, Christians cannot claim, “No!  We will serve the Lord, because He is our God.”

       If I had an altar in my home, before which I placed my “gods,” it would be easy for me to identify my idolatry.  However, I have no such altar.  Yet, in fact, I have many altars and many “gods”.  Sadly, there are many things and sometimes people before which I build my altar of worship.  These things, these people, claim my time, my talent, my treasure.  They have my attention and my energy.  Still, with nose in the air, I have proclaimed: “I will serve the Lord, because He is my God.”  How sad!  O God, deliver me once again from all things that are contrary to Your Lordship!  Let me see You, know You, experience You as You permeate every area of my life.  And let Your creation testify against me that I have made this commitment to You.  Amen!