“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 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.”
Joshua 24:14-15
In this text, Joshua is calling the nation of Israel to return to a place of commitment to God and renew their relationship with God. Maybe this situation is similar to your situation. Has your relationship with God grown weak, stale, or neglected? Has there been a time in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now? If so, then this text speaks to your situation.
Joshua’s first instruction to this people was to “…fear the Lord…” This idea of fear here is not a sense of terror or horror, but Scripture instructs us to revere, respect, and to acknowledge the awe and wonder of God. To fear God is to begin to see the greatness of God and to understand that God has a right to have a claim on my life. When I rightly fear God I live my life as an act of worship to God, remembering how He instructs me to live. Is God inviting you closer to Him by you learning to fear Him?
Heavenly Father, I confess that I have not feared You like I should. At times, I have lived like You do not exist. I know that is not right. Please forgive me and teach me to respect you every day of my life. Please be my God and Lord of my life. Direct me and lead me. Teach me to obey You. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.