Todays Scripture-Joshua 24:14-15

14 “Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Do you remember commandment #1 of the 10 commandments?  “Have no other gods (idols) before me.”  John Calvin said, “Every one of us is, even from his mother’s womb, a master craftsman of idols.”  What is an idol?   An idol is anyone or anything that you live for above your reverence for God. A false god is so important, that if removed causes you to lose your  happiness, peace, or  identity. An idol keeps you off-center because you have allowed something else in the place designed for God. An idol is a pretender, a false god.

Joshua tells us “reverence the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Put away the gods… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”  Notice if you have been off-center.  Is there something or someone in the way of your relationship with God.  Every day is full of choosing. Choose what/who will be the center of your life. Choose Life Himself and live.  Utilize the 3G practice-

Give up – anything that is competing for your relationship with God. Get honest with yourself and God.

Give in – and choose God to be your Center…again…and again…and again.  Develop a holy muscle by choosing God and letting go of pretenders.

Give out –  time to be with God that has been spent with idols.  Create space for silence and listening.