Joshua, chapter twenty four.
Introduction
Dr. Terry LeQuieu preaches from Joshua 24 to remind God’s people of the clear choices every believer must face about serving the Lord. As Joshua nears the end of his life he rehearses God’s past provision, presses the people to remember what they have been given, and demands a decisive commitment: we must choose whom we will serve. This sermon examines “The Requirements of Serving God”—what God expects from His people in response to His blessing, how we are to live, and what practical steps follow from a wholehearted commitment to Christ.
Outline
- The Reminder of God’s Provision
- Given What We Did Not Labor For
Joshua reminds Israel (v.13) that the land, cities, vineyards, and oliveyards were gifts from God—not the fruit of their own labors. The Christian parallel is plain: we often inherit blessings by the sacrifice of others (the church, forefathers, parents). Recognize God’s unmerited favor and be grateful.
- Delight Born from Grace
When we understand God’s gifts, serving Him becomes a delight. The proper motivation for service is gratitude: God daily loads us with benefits (cf. Psalm 68:19; Proverbs-style truth). Delight does not mean selfish pleasure but joyful obedience arising from what He has done for us.
- Given What We Did Not Labor For
- The Requirement to Fear and Serve
- When to Decide: Now
Joshua’s “now therefore” (v.14) presses urgency—today is the day to decide. Delay drifts. The Christian must make a present, personal commitment rather than postponing spiritual choices until “someday.”
- What to Do: Fear the Lord
“Fear” here denotes reverence and awareness of God’s presence, not trembling dread. Fear the Lord means to live conscious of God’s holiness and authority in daily life, letting that reverence govern conduct and decisions.
- How to Serve: In Sincerity and in Truth
True service is both heartfelt (sincerity) and biblical (truth). Service must spring from a transformed heart and be governed by Scripture—“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Mere outward forms or cultural Christianity are not enough.
- When to Decide: Now
- The Requirement to Forsake Other Gods
- Renounce the Past Idols
Joshua commands putting away the gods of earlier generations (v.14). For believers that means renouncing sins, false comforts, and cultural idols—even if they are socially acceptable.
- Reject Present Temptations
He also warns against serving the gods of the Amorites—local idols that promise satisfaction but cannot deliver. Today those “gods” are money, pleasure, reputation, and self-will. You cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).
- Practical Forsaking
Forsaking is concrete: it takes convictions, boundaries, and often difficult choices (friendships, entertainment, money habits) so the heart remains undivided. It is not merely mental assent but active, disciplined turning from alluring alternatives.
- Renounce the Past Idols
- The Requirement to Choose and Declare
- Personal Dare: Choose You
Joshua calls for an individual decision (v.15). Salvation was personal; so too is service. Parents can provide a godly home but cannot make the life-long decision for their children. Each person must answer the question, “Whom will I serve?”
- Permanent Decision: This Day
“Choose you this day” indicates decisive commitment. Make the choice now and write it by faith into your life—record dates of salvation and surrender as reminders and anchors for future trials.
- Particular Destiny: Whom You Will Serve
Your choice determines your path. Choosing God leads to victory in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57); rejecting Him means drifting with the current of the world. If you fail to choose, the default is conformity to the world’s pulls.
- Public and Private Declaration
Joshua declares “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v.15). There is a private commitment and a public declaration: faithful households set a pattern and discipline that influence others. A personal determination becomes a family testimony when disciplined and consistent.
- Personal Dare: Choose You
- The Requirement to Persevere and Witness
- Continual Choice: I Die Daily
Following Christ is a daily dying to self (1 Corinthians 15:31; Galatians 2:20). You choose Christ each morning—cross before crown—so holiness is an ongoing decision, not a single past event.
- Visible Witness: Your Life Wears a Path
Joshua calls them witnesses of their own choice (v.22). A life committed to Christ will make a plain path others can see. Consistency over time proves sincerity: time reveals whether the decision was genuine.
- Accountability and Community
Commitment calls for accountability. The people said, “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord.” Promises made to God should be reinforced by community—family, church leaders, faithful friends—so we stand firm together.
- Continual Choice: I Die Daily
Summary
Joshua 24 lays out clear requirements for serving God: recognize God’s provision (delight), fear and serve Him in sincerity and truth (direction and faithfulness), forsake other gods (forsaking), and make a definitive, public choice (declaration and discipline). Serving the Lord is not a passive inheritance; it is an active, daily commitment born from gratitude for God’s gifts and governed by Scripture. The people’s response—“God forbid that we should forsake the Lord”—is the right answer, but such words must be lived out in consistent obedience and perseverance.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Application for the Week
Make this sermon practical. Below are concrete, attainable steps to apply Joshua’s requirements to your life today and throughout the coming week. Pick 2–4 and commit to them. Write them down with a date as Joshua did, and ask a faithful brother or sister to pray and hold you accountable.
- Decide Today
Write a date in your Bible if you have not made a firm choice to serve the Lord. If you already have a date of commitment or salvation, write a short note beside Joshua 24:15 reaffirming your decision. Make it public to one trusted believer and ask them to pray for you this week.
- Daily “Cross Before Crown” Check
Each morning this week, pause and pray: “Lord, I put You on the throne of today. Help me to die to flesh and live for You.” Keep a short journal: one sentence at night noting where you succeeded and one area to improve tomorrow.
- Forsake One Idol
Identify one worldly “god” (social media, money habits, entertainment, a relationship) that competes for your devotion. Choose a simple, measurable action to reduce its power this week—set a screen-time limit, give an hour of your free time to a neighbor, cancel an unnecessary purchase. Confess and ask someone to pray for strength.
- Serve in Sincerity and Truth
Commit to a faithful, Scriptural service this week: attend worship with intention, volunteer for one church task, or be consistent in personal Bible reading (start with Joshua 24 and John 17). Let your service be governed by Scripture rather than feeling or convenience.
- Create Household Discipline
If you lead a household, have a short family meeting this week to declare together, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Set one family spiritual practice—family prayer at a set time, weekly Scripture memorization, or a no-phones rule during family meals. Keep it simple and consistent.
- Accountability and Witness
Tell a trusted church friend or a pastor the decision you made and ask them to check in mid-week. Seek opportunities to share what God is doing in your life—witnessing encourages perseverance and provides a testimony for others to follow.
Make these requirements practical: delight in God’s provision, follow His direction, forsake competing gods, and declare your choice publicly. Keep choosing daily. As Joshua urged, “choose you this day whom ye will serve.”
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