The theme verse for the resolution that we’re going to be making this morning and witnessing - the theme verse is Joshua 24:15.  Which is a pretty familiar verse:  “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

That’s Joshua’s resolution.  Before we come to our testimonies and resolution this morning we want to think carefully about what Joshua’s resolution means for each one of us.

Joshua 24 is the last chapter of the book of Joshua.  After 40 years in the wilderness God’s people have entered the promised land.  They’ve crossed the Jordan River - taken out Jericho with its walls.  Wiped out tons of people - compromised with some - not completely taken all the land that God told them to take.  But - by God’s grace - patience - and power - they’ve established themselves on the land.

Joshua 24 is a huge moment in the life of God’s people.  The end of a long journey - years of conquest.

Joshua has gathered the nation together at a place called Shechem.  Shechem is up north - west of the Jordan River - just to the east of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim.  Shechem is a  hugely significant location for God’s people.

600 plus years earlier - after God had established his covenant with Abraham - promising to give Abraham a land - to make Abraham a great nation - to bless all the peoples of the world through Abraham’s descendants - when Abraham arrived in the land for the first time - it was here - in this location - Shechem - that he built his first altar to the Lord.

Jacob dug a well here.  Joseph’s brothers - when Joseph went looking for them and they threw him in a pit - sold him into slavery in Egypt - it was at Shechem that they were pasturing their flocks.  The patriarchs dwelt in this land.

The last time Israel was gathered together at Shechem was just as God’s people were beginning their conquest of the Promised Land.

At that time - Joshua had gathered God’s people - 2 million people strong - divided them in half - 1 half on the slopes of Mount Ebal - the other half on the slopes of Mount Gerizim.  The valley between them becoming a huge natural amphitheater.

In front of each half of the nation - in the expensive standing spots are the elders, officers, and judges of the people.  On center stage - was Joshua - there with the ark of the covenant - signifying God’s presence with His people.  There were priests - anointed - consecrated - set apart for God’s service.  Sacrifices are offered on an altar of uncut stones.

An amazing worship service - in this spiritually significant place - God’s people worshiping God as God’s people are about to move forward conquering the land.

So now - at the end of that conquest - the last chapter - Joshua gathers the people together again to this sacred location.  Where Joshua 24 fits into all this - Joshua has been giving a history lesson - reminding God’s people of all that God - their God - has done for them - including taking them out of Egypt - making them into a people - providing for them - putting up with them - wiping out their enemies - giving them the land they’re standing on - fulfilling His promises to them.

Joshua’s history lesson is huge on emphasizing God.  Trust God and He brings the victory.  Trust God and obey Him and experience God’s blessings.  God’s victory and blessing are an outcome of faithful obedience to God.  God brings victory.  God fulfills His promises.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of what Joshua is reminding God’s people.  It is way too easy for us to think that all that we have and all that we experience - all that we’ve been blessed with - that all that is all about us.  And we need to be brought back to reality.  Life is about God.  Our lives need to be focused on God - living in faithful obedience to Him.

Its in this setting of worship and remembering - of refocusing on God -  that Joshua gives God’s people his - Joshua’s - resolution - what we have recorded here in verse 15.

Would you read Joshua’s resolution out loud together with me starting at verse 14.

Joshua 24 - starting at verse 14:  “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness.  Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The therefore in verse 14 is there as a summary.  Because of everything God has done - therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness.  Single hearted faithful service.

Put away the gods that your fathers served on the other side of the Jordan River - back in Ur or back in Egypt - and if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord - meaning if you don’t want to serve God then - choose for yourselves today whom you will serve - there are other choices.  But, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua’s resolution means making a choice.

There are options here - a list of gods to choose from.  The gods our fathers served - back in Mesopotamia - Ur.  Or, you could choose the gods of Egypt.  Those are more familiar from your parent’s slavery days.  Or, the gods of the Amorites that surround us - the gods of the land we’re occupying.  You could just adopt the local gods as your own.

Or, you could choose the God who’s defeated all of those other gods and gave you this land.  But, you must choose.  But choose wisely.

With that choice comes the requirement of service.  “Fear the Lord and serve Him.” 

Choosing a god means that we must serve that god - to gain its favor - its protection - to appease its wrath.  Temples need to be built and maintained.  Altars need to be constructed.  Wood needs to be gathered.  Rituals must be performed.  These gods require human sacrifice - our children slain on their altars.  They require fertility rites - religious prostitution.

Choosing a god is easy.  But the choice being offered is more than which god.  The choice includes service.

Choosing to fear the Lord - to honor and respect Him as your God - to trust Him with your life - means that you must serve Him.

How?  Verse 14 - “in sincerity and in faithfulness.”  Serving God means serving God and serving only God.  Single hearted faithful service.

Do you remember Rachel - Jacob’s second wife.  The time came for Jacob - his wives - the children - the livestock - to escape from Laban - to head home.  Remember this?  By the way - home - was Shechem - where Jacob bought a piece of land and pitched his tent.

As they’re escaping Rachel steals Laban’s household idols - the gods she grew up with - and hides these all powerful gods in her saddlebag.

Let’s be careful.  Jacob and family are people in touch with God - in a big time way - in touch with the living God.  They know God.  They honor God.  But there’s Rachel.  “I’m going with my husband.  But, I’m taking along dad’s gods just in case.”  (Genesis 31:34)

In verse 14 when Joshua says to “put away the gods of your fathers” some of God’s people were still trying to hang on to gods they’d been carrying around with them.  “We saw all that God did.  The conquest of the Promised Land thing.  But just in case this doesn’t work out we’ve got these other gods in reserve.”

We do this.  We look at what goes on around us and we stress out.  We loose sleep over what may happen.  We can see all that God does - what He’s done in our lives - and we can still hang on to our own self-will - our own clever plans and solutions to our lives - to things and people - trusting them rather than God.

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your - what?  your heart will be also.” The things that we value occupy the attentions of our heart.  Our minds dwell on them.  We protect them.  Invest our resources and time and effort in them.  Struggle against surrendering them.

Jesus went on - same teaching - remember this?  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and possessions.”  (Matthew 6:21,24)

We can’t be double-hearted in our service for God.  Either we live serving Him or we don’t.  Because service - comes from the heart - the core of who we are.  Service demonstrates who it is that deep down we’re really trusting with our lives.

Its one thing to say, “God is worthy of trust.”  Most of us here would agree with that statement.  But, its another thing to live faithfully trusting God.  These people need to make a choice.  Fish or what? cut bait?  Choose who you’ll serve.  All those gods of your fathers.  The gods of the culture around you.  Or, the God who is worthy of trust.

The point of the review of history is to make absolutely certain that God’s people - at this sacred place - at this decisive moment in their in their history - as Joshua is about to die and the guard is changing - that they're all on the same page - absolutely clear on one basic truth:  Its God - who has done this for you.  That truth requires a response.  A choice.  Resolution.  Who will you serve?
 

Which is Joshua’s resolution.  “You all can do what you want to do.  But, as for me and my house, we’re serving God.”

Notice that Joshua goes first.  Joshua steps up to the plate.  Chooses to lead.  Joshua’s resolution means choosing to take personal responsibility for how he - Joshua - will live.  Me and my house.  Not, my house and I.  Joshua’s choice isn’t based on an opinion poll.  Its based on taking personal responsibility before God.

Joshua is the head of the home.  Leadership leads.  Godly leadership leads towards God.  Godly men take personal responsibility to lead Godly. 

Today we need men who will take personal responsibility to lead their families towards God - by example - by choice - by resolving to themselves faithfully - obediently - exclusively - to serve God regardless of whatever choice anyone else may make.

Joshua with the position he held as the esteemed - respected - leader of Israel - doesn't go on to establish a dynasty with Joshua as the first king.  In fact - no where in Scripture is there a record of Joshua’s descendants.  Joshua himself is the son of Nun (none).  Bad pun.  (1 Chronicles 7:27)

With all his success - here at the end of his life - Joshua is respected as a man of integrity - humility - who’s continually pointed the people - influenced them - towards God - who’s demonstrated for a nation what it means to walk faithfully with God - what it means to serve God.

Joshua’s resolution:  “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” is the summary of that life - a plea to the nation to follow his example and to do the same.  I made the choice - no other gods but the God.  I have resolved to serve Him and Him alone.

Now the choice is before you.  What choice will you make?  How will you resolve to live? 

There is a huge confusion today as to what it means to be a man - to be a father - to be a husband.  Bottom line:  The vast majority of destructive issues facing our society would not exist if men not only knew how to be Godly men and but resolved to live as Godly men - husbands - and fathers - as Godly leaders in the church and community.

How many of you saw the movie Courageous?  Some of our men have been in engaged in a study this past summer - studying through the book written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick - The Resolution For Men.  Which is written as an unapologetic call for men to live courageously for their faith and families.  It is a book that clearly challenges men to step up and to be the men God has created us to be.

The resolution is not a call to arrogance or a declaration of perfection.  In fact - in part its an owning up to past failure and a recognition of our inadequacy.  The resolution is not a list of good intentions based in wishful thinking like some kind of New Year’s resolution where all the strength and wisdom to make it happen depends on us.

_______________________

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.