Theme: IT PAYS TO SERVE GOD FAITHFULLY TILL THE END
Text: “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods.” – Joshua 24:14-16.
Comment: On the basis of the understanding that God does not force people to worship Him, Joshua, after the death of Moses, told the Jews to choose which God they chose to worship, as stated in the above text. He made the statement knowing that, in the light of His abundant goodness towards us all, every rational person will choose to serve God, and this was the choice he expected the Jews to make, in view of the wonderful works.
It is pertinent to recall the case of Naomi and her daughters-in-law whom she asked to go back to their people since their husbands were dead. While Orpah chose the option of going back to her people and their gods, Ruth insisted on staying. “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:14-17) Those whose faith is strong in God Almighty have everything to gain by His grace. Boaz told Ruth: “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” – Ruth 2:12