JOSHUA 24:15

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

TO PONDER

A lot of you would know I have returned to an analogue notebook system, I say a lot of you because I tell everyone about it. If I actually “caught” a bus I am sure I would tell the stranger on the bus about it.

One of the advantages of my return to the use of pen and paper to help plan my life, is that I have started to keep a “thankfulness” log; daily writing down 3 things I am thankful for but it is harder than I thought to come up with new things everyday without repeating the same things too regularly.

Today’s verse is a challenge from Joshua to the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel (all the bigwigs) to stop sitting on the fence when it came to serving God.

He begins the challenge by reminding them of their shared stories of the past and how God was faithful to them throughout their journey to the promised land. He begins all the way back with Abraham’s dad, through to the exodus and everything God did for the Israelites on their long journey.

Joshua wasn’t using the memories of God’s faithfulness to “guilt-trip” the leaders into choosing to serve God, he wasn’t saying God did all this for you, so now you owe him, but rather he was reminding them of God’s loving kindness, his faithfulness towards them throughout every circumstance.

He was challenging them not to choose God out of fear or obligation but as a grateful response to his grace-full faithfulness, to respond out of gratitude and thankfulness.

Yesterday my list of 3 things on my thankfulness log only had 2 things recorded. It seems like I, just like those Israelite leaders, need help with responding in gratitude.

PRAYER: Faithful Father, I repent for my lack of gratitude and my selfishness and thank you wholeheartedly for the abounding grace you show to me daily, help me be a more thankful person. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.