TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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. Joshua 24:14
Read: Joshua 24:14–15
Listen: Joshua 24
TODAY’S MESSAGE
God’s people’s provision and protection show them God is reliable and can be trusted. But Joshua wants them to recognize something else. He wants them to know that following the gods of the people around them won’t work out well. These gods are not reliable like God.
Our culture may not worship gods carved out of wood or forged out of metal. Watch this video clip as Pastor Jeff Manion reminds us that doesn’t mean we don’t worship substitute gods. Like the people surrounding Israel, we’ve turned many things around us into gods. We chase money, sex or power. We believe success, our kids’ accomplishments, social media followers, grades, sports or experiences are what give us a happy and complete life. We want these things to fill us with purpose, meaning or joy. These are false and unreliable gods that leave us wanting more.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Write the following questions on a page in your journal to help you determine what substitute gods you are pursuing. What do I think will give me meaning? What do I hope will give me value? What am I chasing after to give me significance? What do I feel will make me feel secure? Take a few minutes to answer those questions thoughtfully. The answers likely will reveal one or more of your substitute gods. Somewhere on that page, write Joshua’s response, “As for me…[I] will serve the Lord.” For many of us, being in a small group has been a safe space for community support in regularly choosing Jesus and turning away from our substitute gods. New small groups start soon. Find a small group for you at adabible.org/smallgroups.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse!
PSALMS 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
