Reading: Joshua 24:1-3a and 14-15

Verse 14a: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.”

Having crossed the Jordan and entered into the Promised Land, Joshua gathers the leaders and the people together. They present themselves before God. It is time to decide how to move forward. As Joshua begins to speak he reminds them of their roots: of how God took Abraham and brought him to Canaan and of how God made them into a great nation. It is good to remember our roots, our foundations. Whether through a day like All-Saints’ Day or through a family gathering, whether through Sunday worship or a coffee house conversation, it is important to remember who and whose we are. That is what Joshua is doing with the Israelites. This conversation continues in verses 4-13.

Joshua reminds Israel of who and whose they have been so that he can call them to who and whose they should be moving forward. Telling stories and remembering the past is often how we decide our next steps as we consider our lives and our faith journey. It is at this point that Joshua issues this challenge: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.” Revere and respect the Lord. Be faithful to God alone. As he continues, Joshua challenges them to “throw away” the gods that they’ve added along the way. The call to ‘throw away’ these false gods underscores how useless they are. At the core of this challenge, in essence, is a call back to one God and to loving God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength. “One” and “all” are the key conditions here.

This challenge, this call – it is as relevant today as it was the day Joshua spoke it. It is easy to pick up false gods as we journey through life. Early on we’re taught that success, competition, beauty… are things to seek. Soon enough we’re taught that wealth, status, power… are things to seek. Pride, ego, lust, jealousy… come along with these things we chase. These false gods present a challenge to having one God and they become barriers to loving God with all that we are. Against these gods we must take a stand. In the last verse of today’s passage Joshua declares, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, oh how many gods the world lifts up over you! The world values so much that runs counter to or becomes a barrier to fully loving you with all that we are. Turn my heart, my mind, my will, and my desires to you alone, O God. There I will have all that I need. Amen.