Today’s reading: Joshua 24:14-29
Joshua was the successor of Moses. He was the warrior who led God’s people into the promised land and took the land as God instructed. After all their successful wars, towards the end of his life, Joshua gave the people a final exhortation.
Joshua first reminded them about all the good that God had done for them. Then he said, “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” (v.14). This was a rallying call to be holy warriors.
To be holy is to be set apart. It is to live one’s life for God. It is to have no other gods. It is to know that we are God’s people, and we are to serve Him completely and sincerely, giving all of ourselves and without reserve. Such holiness is to glorify God, and to proclaim who He is to all the nations. It is to establish His reign and to dispel other gods from the lives of people. It is to serve as warriors in God’s army, knowing His power and strength. “At our approach the Lord drove out all the peoples” (v.18a).
To be a holy warrior is a wondrous call. It is intended to fulfill God’s purposes and design for the world. As such, it is an important call, which we all should take very seriously. It is not easy to live out such a call—to be holy as God is holy, and to be His effective instruments in the world. As such, Joshua also warned the people: “You may not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God; he is a passionate God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.” (v.19). He is a holy God! His people too are to be holy, and their sins not forgiven (if unrepented). God knows He cannot achieve His purposes by means of His people if they are not holy and pure.
God calls us, chooses us, and favors us. But with that comes responsibility. And we will be held accountable. “If you forsake the Lord and serve strange gods, he will then do evil to you and destroy you, after having done you good.” (v.20). How many Christians today forsake the Lord and serve strange gods, the gods of isms, such as modernism, cultural Marxism, transgenderism? Instead of fighting and dispelling evil, such so-called Christians themselves become the objects of God’s wrath. After having done good to them, God now does evil to them. How ironic and tragic. But we see such destruction happening to the lives of Christians and in Christians nations today.
God has done much good in our lives. Now He calls us to be at the forefront of His work, to be His holy warriors. May our unqualified response be: “We will serve the Lord” (v.21). Further, we speak not just personally for ourselves, but also for our children and all those in our homes, as each one of us should also say, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (v.15b).
Onward, holy warriors, and take the land!
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