The account of the Israelites taking the land of Canaan is some of the most action packed parts of the Old Testament.

The book of Joshua tells of the taking of the land after the death of Moses. It begins with the announcement of Moses death, and God speaking to Joshua about the future. The rest of the book deals mainly with the taking of the land and its division among the people.

In the last chapter of this great book, it is recorded that Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together to remind them of the things God had done for them and to tell them of the choice they have before them.

Verse fifteen is probably remembered more than any other passage in the entire book of Joshua. " And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh 24:14,15).

Joshua told the people to do something that we today must also do, and that is to make a choice in our lives as to whom we will serve.

Often we wonder at how the Israelites could turn their back on God when He had done so much for them. How soon we forget just how much He has done for us.

Most individuals when asked, "Who do you serve?" will say, "God." Yet the fruits displayed by many show otherwise. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Mat 7:20). When a person has really chosen God above all else, it is God that will ALWAYS come first in their lives. Not just on certain occasions but ALWAYS!

Notice Paul’s words about this matter.

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness … For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:12 - 18, 23).

We must be careful who we serve.