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- Joshua 24:14-18
Joshua 24:14-18
Have you ever heard the phrase “drawing a line in the sand”?
Some attribute the phrase to an incident in 1836 during the Battle of the Alamo in Texas, where Colonel William Travis is said to have drawn a line in the sand and asked those willing to stay and fight to step across it. This act symbolized their commitment to the cause.
Over time, the phrase has become a widely used metaphor for taking a firm stand based on deep conviction of one’s beliefs. While speaking to the Israelites, Joshua challenges them with a similar charge.
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.” 16 The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. 17 For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we travelled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. 18 It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”
Joshua urges the Israelites to fear the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly, casting aside the idols of their ancestors and pledging allegiance to God alone. He presents them with a choice: to serve the one true God or to follow the false gods of the culture around them.
Just as the Israelites faced distractions and competing influences, we also grapple with the pressures of popular culture, which can threaten our devotion to God. However, like the Israelites, we can draw strength from remembering God's past faithfulness.
Spend a few moments today reflecting on how God has been faithful in your life and proven his love for you. A great place to start is the cross.
As you reflect, may that strengthen your faith and bolster your confidence to cross the line and declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord?”