choose for yourselves today

Joshua 24:14-18 (JDV)

Joshua 24:14 “For this reason, fear Yahveh and worship him wholeheartedly and truthfully. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahveh.
Joshua 24:15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahveh, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship – the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship Yahveh.”
Joshua 24:16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon Yahveh to worship other gods!
Joshua 24:17 Because Yahveh our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through.
Joshua 24:18 Yahveh drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship Yahveh, because he is our God.”

choose for yourselves today

Joshua invited his people to choose for themselves, but he had already made the decision for himself and his family (house). Leadership involves setting the course, establishing the direction one will take, and inviting and encouraging others to follow. Joshua could not make all the Israelites choose the path he did, but he certainly could make the case for it, and he did.

You and I have both the personal responsibility to choose God’s kingdom, and the responsibility to lead others down the same path.

Lord, make us leaders that others want to follow — in your path.