Throw Away Foreign Gods

Joshua 24:22-23

“Then Joshua said, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.’ ‘Yes, we are witnesses,’ they replied. 23 ‘Now then,’ said Joshua, ‘throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.’”

Our passage today is best understood after a review of all of Joshua 24. I recommend you take a few minutes to read it. For further insight, see October 5 devotional.

After the promised land was conquered and possessed by all the Israelite tribes, Joshua assembled them for his final address to the people. Joshua reminds them how God worked through His covenant with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob over many years to finally settle them as a large, victorious nation in the promised land.

He reminded them that God gave them a productive, fruitful land they did not have to toil over; vineyards and orchards they did not plant; and, cities they did not have to build (verse 13).

As born again believers, we too have access to many similar blessings after we choose to be “all in” about our daily Christian walk. A review of the preceding devotionals for the last week or so speaks of dedication and consecration that results when we really love and obey God.

However, part of that renewed commitment involves purging our lives of all “the foreign gods” we served previously. They might also be called “idols”, which is really anything we value or “worship” more than God.

Where do you invest your time, energy and resources?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you honestly consider any “foreign gods” or “idols” in your life. Tell the Father you will yield your heart completely to Him.

Dive Deeper: Study Joshua 24.