To serve the One true God

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.” Joshua 24:14-18

Joshua’s challenge to the people during his time is also the challenge the people of God confront today. He could remain in Egypt and serve the pagan god yet because of what the One true God, Yahweh, has done in the past he decided to serve and worship this God. People that worshipped idols surrounded him but for him worshipping the God of the Bible was the easier choice. His God alone should be the one to be worshipped. This is what he wanted his family to know and to live by. He was convinced that His God should be honored for He alone will bring victory and blessing. God brought about victory in the battlefield and Joshua believed that the same God would bring spiritual victory. In this time and age that there are myriads of popular religion that demand loyalty, Christians are called to stand up and to remain steadfast in their allegiance to God. Joshua could have stayed following the faith of his ancestors, yet because of His experience with God he decided otherwise. Now that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have the opportunity to serve Him and be an influenced to your home and to the people around you. Your example of godliness could impact others in their decision to trust Christ as their Lord and Savior. Choose as Joshua did and experience God’s working not only in your life but to others as well. “Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!” (Joshua 23:14)

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman Westside Baptist Church Los Angeles, CA