“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
Every New Year, many of us make plans for the upcoming year. We set goals. We attempt new things. We try to improve our lives somehow. I am amazed that these plans often neglect the health of our souls. We will go to incredible measures to improve temporary things while neglecting the things that are eternal.
In the Bible, Joshua led God’s people to renew their commitment to God. Why? Because our devotion gets distracted, our intensity diminishes, and the distance between ourselves and God widens. A relationship with God requires some effort on our part.
Joshua instructed the people to fear the Lord, serve Him faithfully, and throw away things that distracted their worship. Do we have a deep respect for God, or do we live our lives like God doesn’t exist? The idea of fearing God means to live in awe of who God is. We belong to God and God calls us to obey and serve Him faithfully. Your life has a higher purpose than you ever imagined. You have been called into God’s service. In your life, what competes for God’s rightful place of Lord of your life?
Heavenly Father, please take Your place as Lord of my life. Forgive me for disobeying You and allowing my relationship with You to weaken. I want to know You and I want to grow closer to You in this New Year. Help me to surrender to You and obey You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
