08/13/2026
THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY
THOUGHTS:
Choosing to serve the Lord.
The people of Israel had a long history of suffering because of poor choices.
Joshua urges them not only to serve the Lord but also to repent and turn away from self-indulgence toward the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine). Against such things there is no law.
They recognize that Joshua is bringing them into an oral contract that binds them to obey the Lord and no other gods.
The story in Joshua teaches us about God’s great patience and reflects His character of grace and love.
Israel’s history also teaches us about God’s patience and long-suffering until His sovereign purposes are fulfilled.
Today we do the same when we desire a personal relationship with God (Acts 4:12).
Like the Israelites, we are to enter into a verbal contract agreeing that Jesus is the only way.
There are no other gods, and there is salvation in no other. We commit ourselves to worship God and God alone, becoming stewards of Jesus.
VERSES:
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.”
Joshua 24:23