Choose This Day, Whom You Will Serve
“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15
We live in a world that offers us choices every day — choices about what we believe, how we live, what we value, and who we follow. This is not new. In the closing chapter of Joshua, we find an ancient leader standing before a nation, calling them to make a choice that still echoes into our homes, marriages, and lives today.
Joshua says, “Choose this day whom you will serve…” It was true then, and it’s true now: every day, you and I must choose whom we serve. Let’s look into the scripture for details.
The Israelites have entered the Promised Land. They’ve seen walls fall at Jericho, seen the sun stand still, experienced God’s victory — and now Joshua is old. In his final address at Shechem, he reminds them of their history:
God brought Abraham out of idolatry.
God delivered them from Egypt.
God gave them victories they didn’t earn.
Then he gives them the choice: “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua does not say, “You might want to think about this eventually.”
He says: “Choose THIS DAY…”
We put off spiritual decisions: “I’ll get serious about God when I’m older…”
We think neutral is safe — but neutral is still a decision.
In today’s culture, we’re pulled in a thousand directions:
Career becomes a god.
Our phones shape our worldview.
Politics take the place of truth.
Entertainment distracts us from purpose.
But Joshua is saying: Make a stand. Draw the line.
“If you don’t decide what you serve, the world will decide for you.”
“…whether the gods your fathers served… or the gods of the Amorites…”
Old gods, new names.
The gods of comfort: “I just want to be happy.”
The gods of approval: Living for likes, applause, or acceptance.
The gods of success: Sacrificing family, faith, and health on the altar of ambition.
Joshua knew that Israel’s biggest enemy wasn’t Egypt or Jericho — it was the temptation to drift toward idols.
And today, we fight the same battle.
Who sits on the throne of your life?
What defines your values and direction?
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
This is personal. Joshua isn’t asking as a politician — he’s speaking as a father, a husband, a man of God.
He doesn’t wait for consensus.
He doesn’t ask permission from culture.
He sets the tone in his home.
Parents: What messages are we modeling for our children? Is Sunday just a routine, or do they see Jesus in the way we forgive, love, and speak?
Singles: Are we choosing to serve the Lord in our relationships, our decisions, and how we use our time?
Men: Joshua leads. Not by dominance, but by example. He’s not saying “you better,” but “I will.”
Your house may be a family, a friend circle, or even your apartment — but whatever your “house” is, you have influence.
Not just believing in God — but serving Him.
To serve means:
Placing God first.
Making decisions aligned with Scripture.
Letting Jesus be Lord of your time, finances, priorities.
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” — Romans 12:1
Serving God isn’t part-time. It’s all-in.
Joshua didn’t assume the people would agree — he made his commitment public and personal.
What about you?
What would change if you fully committed to God today?
How would your home change if you said, “As for me and my house…”?
Maybe it’s time to:
Remove some idols.
Reclaim your role as a spiritual leader.
Set a new tone in your home, starting today.
“Choose this day whom you will serve…”
Not tomorrow.
Not when it’s convenient.
Today.
🙏 Prayer
“Father, give us the courage to choose You daily. To serve You not just in word, but in action. Help us lead our homes, love like Jesus, and turn away from the idols that steal our hearts. Let our homes reflect Your grace and truth. As for us — we will serve the Lord. Amen.”
Today’s Scripture:
Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates 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.”