WHAT THEY DID SAY
Today's reading: Joshua 23-24, Luke 16:1-18, Psalm 73:1-9

"All right then, Joshua said, destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. The people said to Joshua, We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone." Joshua 24:23-24 NLT

Just like us, the Israelites wanted God's blessings.

Loads of them.

Pile after pile of God's riches deposited into our deficit accounts.

They wanted all God could give them--and more.

The problem was, as they listened to and responded to Joshua's charge, they wanted it on their own terms.

Sound familiar?

Joshua said to do two things:

1. Destroy the idols.
2. Turn their hearts to God.

Did you catch what the people responded? (I'm wondering if was a corporate statement drafted by a lawyer of the time in order to maintain any loop holes in the agreement.)

They said...

"We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone."

There was nothing said about the idols.

Nothing at all.

Nada.

They, like us, wanted a contingency plan in place in case this 'God thing' didn't work out as smoothly or as easily as they had hoped.

So I believe they kept some 'idols in their pockets'.

Oh, don't think I'm just pointing my finger at these spiritual adulterers...because I have been convicted by God of doing the same thing.

When I don't hear Him, I reach for my idol.

When I don't see Him at work, I reach for my idol.

When I don't feel His presence, I reach for my idol.

When I don't want to do what He is asking of me, I reach for my idol.

What I want to do is turn my heart completely and without doubt to Him, leaving my idols in the dust.

I'm praying that for myself this morning--and I'm praying it for you, too.