Today's Scripture
The Covenant Renewal at Shechem: Joshua 24:19-26
Today’s Reading Schedule: joshua22-24- Click to read
| 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. |
Devotion
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
As I read how Joshua tells the people they can’t worship God because they won’t commit to him. That they hedge their bets with other gods and they are distracted with other foreign gods. It really makes me consider how our existence today is full of distractions that keep us from focusing on God. How there are many things I do that I shouldn’t and the many things I don’t do that I should. How easily I let events around me steal my Peace in God. I relate to the struggles of the Israelites to keep their focus solely on God. But just as they do, it is up to us to claim our God. Fight through the distractions and the selfishness to put only God and his desires for us first. It just seems as relevant as it did then for Us Today…”No! No! We Worship God. Then get rid of the foreign gods you have with you. Say an unqualified yes to God… We Worship God. What He says we will do.”
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the faith leaders you put in our lives to tell us when we are distracted and not truly aligned with you. Give us the wisdom to see our failings and to boldly claim our Lord and Savior. To follow our God, the only God. In Jesus Christ. Amen.
Contributed by Rich McGimsey
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