Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

Nov 08, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Choosing Whom to Serve in a Contested Land

The ancient Israelites stood at Shechem, a place of tension and rugged terrain, to renew their covenant with God. Joshua confronted them with a stark choice: serve the God who delivered them or cling to the gods of their ancestors. Today, believers face similar crossroads in a divided world, where political ideologies, cultural trends, and personal ambitions compete for allegiance. Like Joshua, we must name the "gods" we’ve inherited—whether nationalism, materialism, or self-worship—and actively reject them. This daily choice shapes how we work, spend, love, and advocate for justice. The land we inhabit, both physically and spiritually, demands clarity. [35:04]

“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… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:14–15, ESV)

Reflection: What “gods” have you unknowingly served this week through your choices or silence? What practical step can you take today to declare, “As for me and my house”?

Day 2: Household Decisions That Echo Beyond Ourselves

Joshua’s vow—“me and my household”—rejects the myth of purely private faith. His commitment rippled outward, affecting family, neighbors, and future generations. In a culture obsessed with individualism, this declaration challenges believers to consider how their worship (or idolatry) shapes those closest to them. Every political argument, financial decision, or Sabbath observance becomes a sermon to children, coworkers, and communities. The Israelites’ covenant renewal involved stones as witnesses; our lives erect monuments to what we truly value. To serve the Lord is to let your home become a classroom for grace. [41:45]

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
(Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What “monument” have your recent choices built for others to see? How might your household’s rhythm this week better reflect covenant faithfulness?

Day 3: The Unforgiving God Who Demands Whole Hearts

Joshua startles the people by saying, “You cannot serve the Lord” (24:19). God’s holiness burns away half-heartedness. Unlike manageable idols, the living God refuses to be a side deity—He demands everything. Modern believers often try to blend faith with cultural idols, bargaining with God for convenience. But the same fire that consumed Elijah’s altar still tests our sacrifices. Joshua’s warning exposes the cost: to serve God is to relinquish control, to let Him rewrite our definitions of security, success, and even justice. There is no middle ground. [43:00]

“But Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.’”
(Joshua 24:19–20, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you tried to “blend” God with other loyalties? What part of your life still resists His jealous claim?

Day 4: Covenant Renewal With Pen, Paper, and Selfie

The sermon’s call to physically write “As for me and my house” mirrors Joshua’s stone memorial. Words spoken vanish; words written and photographed become tangible witnesses. This act defies a digital age of ephemeral commitments, anchoring faith in the ordinary—a kitchen table, a phone camera, a child’s questioning gaze. Like the Israelites, we need rituals that turn abstract beliefs into cheeky defiance of despair. Posting the phrase online or mailing it to the pastor isn’t vanity; it’s saying, “Hold me accountable.” Faith wears skin. [50:30]

“And the people said to Joshua, ‘No, but we will serve the Lord.’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’”
(Joshua 24:21–22, ESV)

Reflection: Why does physically writing your commitment matter more than mental assent? Who needs to see your “stone memorial” this week?

Day 5: Rejoicing Always in the God Who Surprises

Paul’s command to “rejoice always” seems impossible amid election tensions and personal anxieties—until we remember we serve a living God, not a controllable idol. Dead gods demand grim duty; the living God births unexpected joy even in Shechem-like places. This joy isn’t denial but defiance, rooted in the nearness of a Lord who still speaks, acts, and surprises. To “think on these things” (Philippians 4:8) is to train our eyes to spot the true, noble, and pure in a world shouting lies. Peace comes not from outcomes, but from allegiance. [47:54]

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
(Philippians 4:4–6, ESV)

Reflection: What anxiety have you let overshadow God’s nearness? Where might He surprise you with joy if you release control today?

Sermon Summary

Joshua’s call to renew the covenant at Shechem presses a question that remains urgent in a divided nation: whom will God’s people serve? The work of mending society begins with allegiance to the true and living God. The church’s mission did not change on election day. Before meetings, classes, or plans for repair, there must be a renewed choice about worship.

Israel makes that choice in a difficult place. The promised land is God’s gracious gift, but the people still live in a hostile environment, surrounded by other gods. Joshua recalls their ancestors’ worship and commands them to put those gods away. Familiarity does not make an idol faithful. The same challenge reaches into civil religion, American superiority, money, racism, and political ideology. Serving God is not merely mental assent. It takes shape in work, purchases, Sabbath, and the treatment of hungry, hurting, poor, and different people.

Joshua’s repeated demand for commitment exposes the seriousness of covenant faithfulness. A declaration is not something to say lightly, and a household’s allegiance reaches beyond any individual. Choices about voting, community, and daily conduct affect others. God’s people remain tempted to fashion more congenial deities, especially gods that agree with their desires and feed their fears.

A dead god is controllable, containable, manageable. The living God surprises, still speaks, and moves people toward God’s purposes. Renewed allegiance therefore means taking God more seriously and the self less seriously, with consequences for justice, welcome, and healing divisions.

Paul’s words in Philippians sustain that calling amid fear. Prayer with thanksgiving, visible gentleness, and attention to what is true and praiseworthy belong alongside practical obedience. God’s peace guards hearts and minds in Christ. A written, visible covenant becomes a reminder that serving the Lord must take shape in ordinary life.

Key Takeaways

1. Covenant Renewal Comes Before Social Repair. A divided society needs mending, but faithful repair begins with the question of allegiance. The church’s mission does not change with an election result, and political ideology must not take God’s place. Renewing the covenant gives the work of healing its direction rather than allowing partisan loyalties to set its terms. [38:13]
2. Ordinary Choices Reveal Actual Allegiance. Serving God involves more than agreement with a statement of faith. Work, purchases, Sabbath, and the treatment of hungry or hurting people reveal which commitments actually govern a life. The choice Joshua demands becomes concrete precisely where daily habits might otherwise escape examination. [37:13]
3. Personal Faithfulness Reaches Beyond The Individual. Joshua’s profession includes his household because allegiance never remains a purely private matter. Those closest to a believer are affected by large decisions and small ones, including voting, public loyalties, and community relationships. The question of personal benefit becomes too small when faithfulness carries consequences for people who are loved. [41:23]
4. The Living God Cannot Be Managed. An idol stays put and serves the purposes of the person who fashioned it. The living God surprises, speaks, and calls people beyond their own preferred arrangements. Faithfulness therefore requires more than religious language that confirms existing desires; it requires readiness to be moved toward God’s purposes. [46:11]
5. God’s Peace Sustains Practical Faithfulness. Fear about the coming weeks and months does not make covenant faithfulness impossible. Paul joins prayer and thanksgiving with gentleness, disciplined attention, and putting received truth into practice. The peace that guards hearts and minds in Christ accompanies a life directed toward what is true, right, lovely, and praiseworthy. [47:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:16] - Scripture Readings: Joshua and Philippians
[32:37] - A Divided Nation and the Work Ahead
[34:05] - Covenant Renewal at Shechem
[35:50] - Putting Away Familiar Gods
[37:13] - Serving God in Everyday Choices
[38:13] - The Church’s Unchanged Mission
[40:44] - Repeated Promises and Household Allegiance
[43:00] - The Seriousness of Serving a Holy God
[44:33] - Fashioning More Congenial Deities
[46:11] - The Living God Still Surprises
[47:29] - Prayer, Gentleness, and God’s Peace
[48:43] - Making a Visible Covenant Sign
[52:42] - A Final Affirmation of Allegiance

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joshua 24:14-15
“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.” [25:32]

Philippians 4:4-9
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” [29:52]

Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before me.” [35:50]

Observation questions

In Joshua 24:14–15, what loyalties must Israel leave behind, and what choice does Joshua place before the people? [36:07]
What everyday activities reveal whether someone’s commitment to serving God goes beyond words? [37:13]
What contrast is drawn between a human-made idol and the living God in how each responds to human desires and purposes? [46:17]
In Philippians 4:4–9, what practices accompany God’s promised peace, and how does Paul connect thought with action?

Interpretation questions

Why does Israel need to renew its commitment to God even after receiving the promised land? What does this suggest about relying on a past profession of faith? [38:16]
How can loyalty to a nation, political party, or financial success become a rival to God under the command in Exodus 20:3? What would distinguish responsible involvement from worship? [36:47]
Why does Joshua’s commitment in Joshua 24:15 include his household? How does this challenge the idea that a person’s faith and choices affect only that individual? [41:34]
How do prayer, thanksgiving, and gentleness in Philippians 4:4–9 equip believers to work toward healing divisions rather than withdraw from difficult situations? [47:02]

Application questions

When have you found it difficult to distinguish loyalty to God from loyalty to a political group, national identity, or financial security? What might help you recognize when one of these loyalties is asking too much of you? [38:04]
Think about your spending, work habits, use of technology, or practice of Sabbath. Which area most needs to reflect your commitment to God, and what small change could you try this week? [37:21]
Who is affected by your everyday choices more than you usually notice? How might considering that person change a decision you are facing? [41:45]
Can you recall a time when following God challenged something you strongly wanted or believed? Where might you need to become more willing to be corrected or surprised now? [46:17]
What worry is making it harder for you to respond gently to others? How could you bring that concern to God with thanksgiving, and what might gentleness look like in your next difficult conversation? [47:42]
If you made a visible reminder of your commitment to serve God, where would you place it? What specific act of welcome, justice, or care would you want it to prompt this week? [49:00]

Sermon Clips

42s

#LivingGod

“A dead god, a god that we concoct for ourselves, is controllable, containable, manageable. It's an idol that stays put and can be dependably used for our own purposes. A living god shocks, moves, and uses us for god's purposes. A true living god surprises and still speaks. It is time that we all attempt to do something strange in this land in the current age. We are going to try to take god a little more seriously and ourselves a little less so.”

47s

#ChooseGodOverIdols

“Idolatry, subservience to false gods, is a challenge for God's people in any age. We keep manufacturing gods who are easier to get along with rather than attend to the God who has loved us and rescued us in Jesus. In reality, for lack of a better idol, we seem to default to worshiping ourselves. And when we let ourselves, our choices, our aches and pains, our yearnings and desires be the god we worship, little room remains offer the true and living and still speaking God.”

41s

#WorshipGod

“As we listen to this ancient scripture, we probably think to ourselves, well, we may have problems with racism and war and human evil, but at least we've come a long way from those Israelites. We're not a bunch of pagan idolaters. But just for right now, I want you to consider that the hardest task of a Christian is to avoid the sin of idolatry. Our great challenge is to worship God who is creator, redeemer, and holy spirit rather than ourselves.”

41s

#FaithInAction

“Maybe the god of money and upward mobility. Maybe those darker deities that bedevil us still on race and jingoism. How do we invite our people to shed these ideals in order to serve the true and living god? And what does this theological god choice look like? Not just mental assent, but very practical stuff. How you farm, how you do your job, what you buy, how you treat people, especially different people, hungry people, hurting people, poor people.”

42s

#FaithOverPolitics

“So do we grab the latest gadget? Do we join the neighborhood banter making fun of somebody? Do we give church a skip to get to the golf tournament or the soccer game? Do we turn off the gadgets and TV and actually observe Sabbath? I could give many, many examples. But here's this. As political ideology is the dominant idolatry of our day, putting those gods away and instead saying we will serve the lord matters post election.”

32s

#ServeWithJustice

“It is time to serve a living, still speaking god. So let us make the covenant right now in all... That in all things we will keep it, in the way we live, in the way we treat people, the way we stand for justice, the way we welcome, the way we work to restore our world, our community, the way we work to heal our divisions. It's time.”

55s

#FaithAndFamily

“Joshua's decision influences beyond himself. He makes the profession for himself and also for my household. Our important decisions, especially our professions of faith, go beyond our individuality. They affect our families and others. This turns the modern, what's in it for me, question slightly askew when we realize that those we love are affected by the ultimate and even the smallest decisions and professions we make. They are affected by how we vote. They are affected by whom we support. They are affected by how we interact with our community.”

49s

#RejectFalseIdols

“Something within us keeps fashioning something to give our lives to other than God. Rather than love God and share that and follow in the ways Jesus taught us, we devise more congenial deities. The Israelites borrowed the gods of the Egyptians or the Canaanites, finding those godlets more to their liking. Now about us? We have seen people make gods of human leaders. Blinded to the truth simply because they see someone who agrees with their own desires or feeds their fears, hates the people they hate, falsely teaches them, and ultimately leads them into oblivion.”

55s

#ChooseWhoYouWorship

“Decide today whom you will worship. The God who delivered you from bondage or some other God more to your liking. And the people swear to worship the God of Israel, the God who has promised to be their God. Joshua is oddly unconvinced by their declaration to worship God rather than idols. He he has them promised three times. We promise, we swear, we vow we will worship the true and living God rather than some dead human made idol. I get the impression that Joshua is still unconvinced, still uneasy that God's people may slip back into idolatry, worshiping the gods of Egypt or of their promised land, Canaan, at any time.”

40s

#FaithOverNationalism

“What idols did your parents and ancestors whom you love and adore so much serve? What gods do your family members, friends, colleagues, civic leaders, and coworkers serve? Jesus spoke of pitting father against son. Now he's not stirring up family strife, but he's pressing for a choice. Many people have imbibed the whole civil religion thing of the good American life, American superiority.”

30s

#ChurchMission

“The church's mission didn't change on election day. These Hebrew people have made a previous choice for Yahweh, and now it is time for them to renew their pledge of faith and allegiance to this god who was able to do so many things for them. Joshua, at this point in his speech, recounts part of the story of their salvation.”

44s

#ReadyToRebuild

“But for now, the winner of the election is not yet beneficially declared. And even when they are, there will inevitably be still a divided nation. There is much work to do, and we need to be ready to do it. Much as the virgins in the gospel story today were called to be always ready. And to be ready, we need to prepare and to be prepared to mend, to repair our society, our world.”

52s

#FaithInHostileTimes

“geography matters. You see, Shechem, today even, is part of the contested, very tense West Bank. The topography is rugged. It's rocky. It's not an easy drive even with the roads that are there. And back in the bronze age, Israel hadn't conquered the entire land. Canaanites still controlled the main roads, and the marginalized Israelites really had to scrape for whatever they could manage. In other words, Israel was living in a hostile environment as a minority, and religiously, they were considered to be a downright weird sect. The same was true for the early Christians.”

51s

#CovenantRenewal

“Surprisingly, it really is our Hebrew scripture reading for today that has much to say about where we are today, as does the selection I've added to our readings from Philippians, which Wayne read for us. Our text from Joshua is the story of covenant renewal at Shechem. It involves the opportunity and celebration of choice. The Hebrews, as now led by Joshua, have just completed a long arduous conquest of the land, and at last they inhabit the promised land. It's been difficult, but Egyptian slavery and the struggles in the wilderness are now far behind them.”

40s

#RenewYourFaith

“I wonder, was Joshua just trying to provoke them to rise up and obey their better angels, you know, the the white one on the shoulder instead of the red devil? Is this meant to be a double affirmation? One declaration of faith is not enough. Then they affirm again in verse 24, so it's three times. At last, there is public covenant making ceremony, where there are written vows and even a stone set up as a witness.”

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