For Which It Stands

"I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.”
“So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

The Israelites that Joshua was leading had known nothing but traveling.  They had not known a home.  They had not known land of their own.  At the end of the book of Joshua where we read here Israel had finally secured the promised land through the power of God.  They were now home.

As they were now settling in a fruitful land Joshua warned them of distraction.  When things became easy the people of Israel would not feel a need for the Lord.  The things that surrounded them would become a temptation.  Without a battle focusing them on the Lord the Israelites would be tempted by the things surrounding them.  Their heart could become divided in a land of plenty.

Often as Christians, in good seasons, we become afflicted with the same divided-heart syndrome. We believe in Jesus but are reluctant to commit every area of our lives to Him. There is a story told about our heart as Christ’s home.  We allow God slowly into the kitchen or the living room.  But we would never allow Him in our closets.  Or we don’t allow God to go to work with us.  God is not allowed to go to a party because that would not be a good place for God to be.  We don’t want to live out our faith each day if it deprives us of worldly success or pleasure. A divided heart, though, results in some serious consequences. If our heart is divided, then it is weak and flabby.  It is not able to stand up to the temptations of this world.  It will be unable to make good decisions and stand strong in faith.  Jesus might call us but our hearts might not hear His call in our life.  A divided heart most definitely does not allow us to fulfill the Great Commission and lead others to Christ.  A divided heart causes cracks in our foundation leaving us open for further destruction.  

Joshua asked Israel to think about their choices.  He provided them with their options though only one choice was steadfast and sure.  A choice must be made or we are left with a divided heart and cracks in our foundation. God wants all of your heart and God desires to be a part of every aspect of your life!

  1. What is competing for God’s number one place in your life?
  2. What places do you need to allow Christ to enter in your life? Do you have closets that you need to let God in?  Do you let God sit at home while you go to work, to school, to party?



--Zine Smith

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