"We Say, Witnesses!"

Joshua 24: 19-24

 19 Then Yehoshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve יהוה, for He is a set-apart Elohim, a jealous Ěl is He. He does not bear with your transgression and with your sins, 20 if you forsake יהוה and shall serve mighty ones of a stranger. Then He shall turn back and do you evil and consume you, after He has been good to you.”
 21 And the people said to Yehoshua, “No, but we do serve יהוה!”
 22 Then Yehoshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen יהוה for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “Witnesses!”
 23 “And now, put away the mighty ones of the stranger which are in your midst, and incline your heart to יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl.” 24 And the people said to Yehoshua, “יהוה our Elohim we serve, and His voice we obey.”

Joshua's words to Israel is pretty serious. The  commitment   Israel  made to Yahweh spelled  condemnation for those who did not keep it. How much more today, when we pledge ourselves to Messiah and do not keep our word of commitment to Him. Will we, too, bear the consequence of an empty promise?  How often have we sung songs, shared a  corporate  prayer and testified, "We will serve..." "We are witnesses..."We listen to His voice,,,"? Our testimony becomes a witness against us, and we are judged by our own mouths. 

It's a matter of devotion: we will serve the one in whom we are devoted to. Joshua urged, "turn aside from the gods of the foreigner...and incline your heart to Yahweh."  Various other pursuits take up so much of our time that sometimes and even most often times we forgo our daily devotions and time spent with the Holy One. Who, then -or what-receives our devotion???

Yahweh wants to multiply us - to make us stronger, more efficient vessels of His Will. He is completely aware of our obstacles, but is asking us today, "For whom do you live?" "For whom do you serve?" How can we listen to hear His voice if we never stop long enough to hear him? Draw close to Yahweh-with your intent, your time and your priorities-and He will redeem everything you "give up." There is NOTHING more important, more crucial in life, than devotion to the Father. Especially your daily heart felt devotion that takes  presidence  over every other area of your life. 

He is not to be just "part of the mix," nor an ingredient in the kitchen of life, or various parts of an engine to a car that gets you to where you are going. Yahweh is to be-ALL, and end-ALL of our  existence, and He deserves our DAILY devotion to Him first in all things.

Father, convict me of my  insincerity. Teach me how to make You my life's focus and to find all my strength,  power, energy, ideas, productivity-my everything-only in You. Show Yourself faithful in my life, so that as I draw closer to You, You will draw closer to me. I "sacrifice" my time to You in obedience to Your desire to want to be with me, and me with You-not so that it will be redeemed, but because You are worth far more than my time and attention. Thank You, Yah...You are so awesome and mighty and worthy of praise! I will prove it to You with my actions.