From Drift to Devotion: Choose God Over Idols

Devotional

Day 1: Overcoming Cycles of Drifting and Dissatisfaction

At the beginning of a new year, many of us set intentions, much like making resolutions. We start with enthusiasm, keeping our commitments for a few days, but then a missed moment or a skipped day can lead us off track. This often results in a return to old habits, leaving us feeling dissatisfied and back where we started. This cycle of making, keeping, missing, and then remaining unchanged is a common human experience, whether in personal goals or spiritual disciplines. It highlights the challenge of sustained faithfulness and the ease with which we can drift from our initial resolve. [02:31]

Judges 21:25 (ESV)
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Reflection: How do you identify areas where you've drifted from your initial intentions to follow God, and what small, consistent step could you take this week to re-engage?

Day 2: Living a Life of Unwavering Faithfulness

Joshua stands out as a remarkable figure, a man of consistent godliness throughout his life, with no recorded moral failures. He served faithfully as Moses' assistant, was one of the two spies who believed God's promise, and courageously led the Israelites into the Promised Land. His leadership at Jericho exemplifies his unwavering obedience, trusting God's seemingly illogical command to simply walk around the city walls. This profound faith, even when faced with immense obstacles, led to extraordinary victory. [13:33]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Reflection: In what specific area of your life is God inviting you to demonstrate unwavering obedience, even when the path seems illogical or challenging, much like Joshua at Jericho?

Day 3: Recognizing God's Abundant Provision

Joshua reminded the Israelites of the immense blessings they had received: a land flowing with milk and honey, houses they didn't build, vineyards they didn't plant, and olive trees they didn't cultivate. He emphasized that everything good they possessed—their promised word, protection, victories, and provisions—came directly from the Lord. This powerful message encourages us to pause and reflect, recognizing that every good and perfect gift in our lives originates from God. It's a call to acknowledge His generosity and the depth of His care for us. [17:56]

James 1:17 (ESV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Reflection: Take a moment to consider your daily life. What specific "good and perfect gifts" (tangible or intangible) have you recently overlooked, and how might acknowledging them shift your perspective?

Day 4: Choosing to Serve the Lord Alone

We are presented with a profound choice: whom will we serve? Joshua challenged the Israelites to put away the idols of their ancestors and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. This isn't a passive decision but an active, daily commitment. We are all going to serve someone or something, and often, in our modern world, we find ourselves serving the "god of self." Faith is a choice we make every single day, determining whether God will be a priority or become a minority in our lives. [25:04]

Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV)
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served in the region beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Reflection: When you consider the "gods" of modern culture or even the "god of self," what is one practical way you can intentionally choose to prioritize serving the Lord alone in your daily routine this week?

Day 5: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact

Even amidst cycles of drifting and disunity, God consistently uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. The book of Judges reveals how individuals, often unexpected or seemingly unqualified, were empowered by the Spirit of the Lord to bring about His purposes. This truth extends to us today: God is more than willing to use ordinary people, filled with His Spirit, to make a profound impact. This journey often begins in our homes, influencing our families, then our neighborhoods, and ultimately our communities, as we align our lives with God's will. [33:23]

Judges 3:9-10 (ESV)
When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

Reflection: Where in your current sphere of influence—your home, family, or neighborhood—do you sense God inviting you, an ordinary person, to step out in faith and allow His Spirit to work through you in an extraordinary way?

Sermon Summary

At the outset of a new year, the congregation is invited to recognize the spiritual rhythms that shape both personal habit and national history. Human resolutions often begin with energy and then decay into old patterns, mirroring larger biblical cycles: devotion, drift, bondage, repentance, deliverance, and renewed service. That pattern frames the coming study of Judges, where Israel repeatedly moves from wholehearted worship to syncretism and fragmentation after the death of Joshua. Joshua himself is presented as an uncommon model of steadfast faith and faithful leadership—one who trusted God, led with obedience (as at Jericho), and set memorials so future generations would remember God’s provision.

Attention shifts from heroic narrative to practical choice: every person must decide whom to serve. Material blessings, homes, vineyards, and every good gift are portrayed as gifts from the Lord; gratitude and recognition of God’s hand are prerequisites to faithful living. Joshua’s closing challenge—“choose this day whom you will serve”—is reframed as three spiritual commitments: hold fast to the Lord and abandon false gods; make faith an active daily choice rather than a drifting default; and walk God’s way regardless of circumstances. The text warns that, without intentional decisions and communal fidelity, unity frays and individuals revert to doing “what seems right in their own eyes.”

Yet amid decline, Judges highlights an encouraging truth: ordinary people—cowards, unexpected leaders, women, and the unnamed—are empowered by the Spirit to accomplish extraordinary things. Revival begins at the table, at home, and in small acts of obedience that ripple outward into neighborhoods and communities. The call is for ordinary followers to be made available to the Spirit for God’s purposes, trusting that the same power which brought victory under Joshua will unleash a new wave of faithful action. The passage closes with an invitation to remembrance and communion, anchoring the year in the broken body and shed blood of Christ and sending the community to live as God’s entrusted people in a world of recurring cycles.

Key Takeaways

1. Recognize recurring spiritual cycles Commitment without ongoing discipline naturally slides back into former patterns; spiritual life is rhythmic, not one-off. Naming the cycle—start, slip, regret, restart—allows intentional interruption by repentance and renewed practices that prevent drift. Breaking the loop requires concrete habits that reinforce dependence on God rather than merely good intentions. [02:31]
2. Remember Joshua’s faithful leadership Joshua’s life models leadership formed by proximity to God: steady obedience, memorializing grace, and courageous trust in improbable commands. Leadership’s primary work is to form a people who remember, not merely to achieve victories; remembrance safeguards future faithfulness. Such leaders empower ordinary people to become instruments of God’s deliverance through rooted fidelity. [06:18]
3. Everything good is God’s gift Material provision and personal talents are framed as divine gifts meant to fuel worship and service, not personal boasting. Recognizing blessings as gifts reorients gratitude into stewardship and guards against the self-made idolatry of autonomy. This perspective transforms daily possession into theological practice. [18:22]
4. Ordinary people empowered by Spirit God’s work often runs through unlikely vessels—timid individuals, women, and unsung members—when the Spirit fills and sends them. Spiritual effectiveness depends less on pedigree and more on yielded availability to God’s voice and mission. Ordinary obedience, empowered by the Spirit, resists cultural drift and renews neighborhoods and families. [31:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - New Year’s resolutions (lighthearted start)
[02:31] - The cycle of resolutions and life
[04:28] - Judges introduced: patterns of Israel
[06:18] - Joshua: character and calling
[12:04] - Jericho: faith through obedience
[18:22] - Remembering God’s gifts
[25:29] - Three commands: hold, choose, walk
[31:17] - Ordinary people, Spirit-empowered
[34:14] - Communion, remembrance, and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

Joshua 24:14–15 (ESV)
"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Judges 21:25 (ESV)
"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

Observation questions

In Joshua 24:14–15, what are the three specific groups of "gods" Joshua mentions that the people could potentially serve instead of the Lord?
According to the pattern seen throughout the book of Judges, what typically happens to the people of Israel after they drift away and fall into sin? [04:56]
At the very beginning of the book of Judges, how do the tribes of Israel demonstrate unity and dependence on God? [28:53]
What was unique about Joshua’s character and leadership compared to other biblical figures like Moses or David? [06:35]

Interpretation questions

Joshua reminds the people that they are living in houses they didn't build and eating from vineyards they didn't plant. How does recognizing that every good thing is a gift from God protect a person from the "idolatry of autonomy" or thinking they are self-made? [17:14]
The book of Judges ends with the statement that "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." What does this suggest about the spiritual and social consequences when a community stops making an intentional, daily choice to serve the Lord? [29:18]
Joshua used "stones of remembrance" to teach future generations. Why is the act of communal remembering—specifically recalling God’s past deliverance—so essential for maintaining faithfulness in the present? [10:17]
Throughout Judges, the Spirit of the Lord empowers "ordinary" people—including those who were timid or unexpected leaders. What does this reveal about the requirements for being used by God in a broken world? [31:17]

Application questions

We often experience a cycle in our resolutions: we start strong, miss a day, and then eventually slide back into old patterns until we become dissatisfied. [02:31] Where are you currently seeing a "spiritual drift" in your life, and what is one concrete habit you can start this week to interrupt that cycle?
It is easy to fall into the trap of "doom scrolling" or procrastinating, which can cause us to drift spiritually. [01:50] How can you be more intentional about "choosing your way" this week rather than just letting your time and attention drift by default? [26:18]
We are often tempted to serve the "god of self," believing we are the sole determiners of our own fate. [24:22] In what specific area of your life are you finding it hardest to let go of control and "hold fast" to the Lord instead? [25:29]
Everything good in our lives—our health, our minds, and our families—is a gift from God. [18:22] Take a moment to name three specific "good and perfect gifts" in your life. How does acknowledging these as gifts change the way you view your current circumstances? [19:04]
Revival often starts at the kitchen table or in small acts of obedience at home. [31:37] What is one practical way you can lead your "house" (whether that is a family or just yourself) to serve the Lord more faithfully this month? [25:04]
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things when they are empowered by the Spirit. [33:36] If you truly believed the Spirit was ready to work through you, what is one "extraordinary" act of service or witness you could perform in your neighborhood or workplace this week? [22:54]

Sermon Clips

``This year, my challenge is that you would be willing to be an ordinary person for an extraordinary purpose. This year, we will look at ordinary people living in a broken world doing extraordinary things through the spirit. [00:33:07] (18 seconds) #OrdinaryToExtraordinary

Faith is a choice. You have every single day. You get to make the choice. Are you gonna choose God today or are you not? Is God gonna be important to you today or is he not? And what's gonna happen? The same thing would happen to God will happen to your resolutions. You're gonna start out strong, then you're have a day without him. Then you go back, and then you have three days without him. And then you're gonna go back, and then pretty soon, you're gonna be okay, drifting spiritually, falling away. If you don't make him important, it will be unimportant. If you don't make him a priority, he will become a minority in your life. [00:26:22] (41 seconds) #ChooseFaithDaily

That's what we're gonna do. That's me and my family. We're gonna do that. And you need to do the same thing. So there are three points from Joshua's simple little challenge. The first one. The first one is this, you need to hold on to the Lord. Hold on to the Lord. You need to let go of false gods. I don't know what gods you're holding on to, but you've got a choice. You can choose forever the idols of your ancestors, new and old, or you can hold on to God. Which one are you gonna hold on to? You can't hold on to God and hold on to the other gods. It's impossible. You can't have both hands filled with two different gods. It doesn't work. [00:25:09] (40 seconds) #HoldOnToGod

I want you to stop right now. I want you to pause for a second. I want you to think. I want you to reflect. Everything that you have is from the Lord. Everything. The house that you live in, God provided it. The job that you live in, God provided it. Your intellect, your mind. God gave you a good mind. God gave you wisdom in order insight in order to how to have that job. God give you a good family. God blessed you and blessed you and blessed you. You could probably start counting the different things that God has given you. Everything everything you have that is good comes from the Lord church. Joshua was right. [00:18:18] (46 seconds) #EverythingFromGod

Joshua, the context, is saying, you know what? You are blessed. You you people are tremendously blessed. You're in the land that God promised Abraham, and Abraham never got. You were delivered. Your grandparents, yes, your grandparents, were slaves in Egypt, and and God rescued you. You cried out, God rescued you from slavery from Egypt. God rescued you through many miraculous signs. Remember, just walked it through a river, and your family walked through the sea, and and through miraculous signs, they were redeemed and rescued out of Egypt. Incredible. You were led into this land. People, Joshua was saying, you are blessed. [00:15:28] (46 seconds) #BlessedAndDelivered

You're going to see it starts at the home, and it starts at the home. When when all of a sudden you go, oh, look, my home's in disarray, and so you feel you're filled with the spirit. You go, I'm just gonna start following God. And this year, I'm not gonna do anything else, but my home is gonna align with God's will. And so at your home. And then pretty soon, your home affects your family. You know, maybe your extended family, maybe your grandparents, maybe your grandchildren. I don't know. It affects your family because you're just listening to God, and you're living, letting go of the world's idols, and you're holding tight on to God. [00:31:37] (41 seconds) #StartAtHome

And yet, in the middle of that, in the middle of Judges one one to 21, Ordinary people will do extraordinary things, and it's empowered by the spirit. Verse after verse after verse, it says, the spirit of the Lord filled them. Empowered by the spirit that will bring people back to the Lord, and doesn't that connect with what we learned last year? [00:30:53] (23 seconds) #SpiritEmpowersOrdinary

Some are cowards. Some are are are at first, they're afraid to go do what God told them to do, and they go ahead and do it anyways. Some are are unexpected, Gasp, shock, horror. God uses a woman. And she's a leader. Oh, man. We can't have that. God can only use men. Right? And God uses women, and God uses cowards, and God uses no name people from little tribes to do extraordinary things, church. [00:32:31] (36 seconds) #GodUsesTheUnexpected

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From Drift to Devotion: Choose God Over Idols

Devotional

Day 1: Overcoming Cycles of Drifting and Dissatisfaction

Day 2: Living a Life of Unwavering Faithfulness

Day 3: Recognizing God's Abundant Provision

Day 4: Choosing to Serve the Lord Alone

Day 5: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

From Drift to Devotion: Choose God Over Idols

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