As I was reading this passage, I was impressed with the people's response as they recalled all of the things the LORD had done for them:
22:22 "The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! ...23:5 This land will be yours, for the Lord your God will himself drive out all the people living there now. You will take possession of their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. 6 "So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left. 7 Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them. 8 Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now. 9 "For the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you. 10 Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.24:14 "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. 15 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." ... 19 Then Joshua warned the people, "You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you." 21 But the people answered Joshua, "No, we will serve the Lord!" 22 "You are a witness to your own decision," Joshua said. "You have chosen to serve the Lord." "Yes," they replied, "we are witnesses to what we have said." 23 "All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone."
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that I will remember all of the things you have done for me and respond in obedience. Lord, please encourage me to follow you. I want to commit to doing your will. God, please give me physical, emotional, and intellectual strength so that I can love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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