“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.” (Joshua 24:15)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God doesn’t play well with others. Put away foreign gods. He is a jealous God. It’s not that He can’t handle competition. He very clearly can. Look back at how He led Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Look at how He brought Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt. Look at what He did to their armies and the false hopes they had in themselves. He exposes the false gods for what they are. This isn’t just an “our God can beat up your god in a fight” boast. This is why: Those false gods can’t save the people who trusted in them. They couldn’t save Pharaoh or Balak. They couldn’t save Jericho or any of the various “ites,” either. They don’t have the power to save. As they stand against His people, it becomes clear. Those who would destroy the ones God calls blessed dash themselves to pieces. But that isn’t what God is concerned about.

Even this is about the forgiveness of sins. False gods only work in power, not mercy. The Lord works not only power that they can’t, but mercy that they won’t. The reason that He won’t share you, that He absolutely insists that you serve Him and Him alone, is that no other gods forgive sins. They are law gods. Ours is the God who promises not just to save us from the world, but from ourselves, from our sins. He is the God who works in mercy to those He loves, and to you.

We hear this, say Amen, and then try to mix the two. I want mercy from Jesus, but a little power from money, from fame, from popularity, from strength. “I love Jesus and.” But the “and” at the end can’t forgive your sins. When you mix the two together, you stop looking to God for mercy, because the “and” makes it all about power. The Lord becomes a means to an end. He did more than lead slaves out of Egypt through the Red Sea. He led them out of death through the forgiveness of sins. He died for us that we would live. As for us, we will serve the Lord. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

A righteous Helper comes to thee; His chariot is humility, His kingly crown is holiness, His scepter, pity in distress. The end of all our woe He brings; Therefore the earth is glad and sings. To Christ the Savior raise Your grateful hymns of praise. (“Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” LSB 341, st.2)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch