Day 112

Joshua 24:1-33; Luke 21:1-28; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 13:20-23

TODAY’S READING BROUGHT us to the conclusion of the book of Joshua. In finishing this book, we also said good-bye to Joshua. He lived a faithful and incredibly adventurous life until the age of 110, and as his final days approached, he followed in the footsteps of Moses by making sure the people were reminded about who they were, where they’d come from, and where they were going.

At the end of his life, Joshua admonished Israel’s leaders to choose whether they would serve the Lord and to forever reject anything less. The people affirmed their allegiance to God, and then Joshua said something striking: “You are a witness to your own decision” (Joshua 24:22).

What made this so powerful is that the people were agreeing that no one else needed to render a verdict: Their lives would serve as a witness against them if they went against their promise.

This is a fascinating way to look at our own lives. We are the witnesses for or against our faith, based on the way we truly live our lives. We can present an image of just about anything, but underneath it all is the truth. The way we live into our relationships today will be a witness for or against us. The words we choose to say today will be a witness. When we lay our heads down to rest this evening, we will have testified to what we really believe about knowing God. Let’s take this to heart today and understand that our lives are the greatest witness for or against what we say we believe. May we come to the same conclusion the children of Israel did so long ago: “We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone” (Joshua 24:24).

MEDITATION:

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.