The Word for Today with Ray

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

We Will Serve and Obey the LORD - Joshua 24:24

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-four of Joshua, Joshua or the writer shares how, “the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey” where we read,

And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

The verse reads, “And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the people said unto Joshua” which means “and the human beings of Israel uttered, declared and proclaimed to Joshua whose name means ‘Jehovah is salvation’ and was the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan”, “the LORD our God” or “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God our, the people of Israel’s, Supreme Deity” “will we serve” which means “shall we, the people of Israel, labor, work for and worship”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “people” of Israel told “Joshua” that they would “serve” Jehovah God who is the Supreme Deity.

The verse goes on to say, “… and his voice will we obey.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and his voice” which means “and his, Jehovah God’s, sound and noise of uttered words” “we will obey” or “we, the people of Israel, shall listen to, hear and perceive by ear”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel declared that they would listen and consent to Jehovah God’s “voice”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel vowed to “worship and labor for” Jehovah God, and they promised to listen to and follow His words. God wants everyone to have this type of relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us live in a manner that “serves” Him, hears Him and follows what He has to say. (See Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how, “Joshua made a covenant with the people that day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Put Away the Strange Gods - Joshua 24:23

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-three of the book of Joshua, Joshua said, “put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you” where we read,

Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you,

and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

The verse reads, “Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “now therefore put away” which means “at this time wherefore, then and on this account turn aside, depart, avoid and be removed from”, “said he” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed he, Joshua”, “the strange gods” which means “the foreign, alien and pagan deities” “which are among you” or “that exist in the midst and middle of you, the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” instructed the people of Israel to depart from and remove the foreign pagan deities that were in the midst of them.

The verse continues, “… and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and incline your heart” which means “and stretch out, extend and bend your, the people of Israel’s, inner man, mind, will and understanding” “unto the LORD God” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God the Supreme Deity” “of Israel” which means “belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of descendants of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” directed the people of Israel to bend their mind and will to Jehovah God who is the Supreme Deity belonging to “Israel”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how “Joshua” exhorted the people of Israel to depart from their foreign pagan deities which were in the midst of them and to bend their minds and wills toward Jehovah who is the Supreme Deity belonging to “Israel”. God wants us to put Him first in our lives, (See Matthew 6:33) and when we receive His Son Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us put away all other “gods” to worship Him and Him alone. (See Ezekiel 14:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how, “the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Witnesses Against Yourselves - Joshua 24:22

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he has done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, No; but we will serve the LORD”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-two of Joshua, “Joshua said unto the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD” where we read,

And Joshua said unto the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

The verse reads, “And Joshua said unto the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him.” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Joshua said unto the people” which means “and Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation uttered, declared and proclaimed to the human beings of Israel”, “you are witnesses” or “you, the people of Israel give testimony and evidence” “against yourselves” which means “averse toward your own selves” “that you have chosen you the LORD” or “that you, the people of Israel, have elected and selected Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “to serve him” which means “to worship, labor and work for him, Jehovah God”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” told the human beings of Israel that they were giving testimony averse to their own self that they selected Jehovah God to labor, work for and worship Him.

The verse goes on to say, “And they said, We are witnesses.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and they said” which means “and they, the people of Israel, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “we are witnesses” or “we, the people of Israel, exist as ones who testify, bear record and have evidence”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel declared that they were giving testimony and evidence that they would “serve” Jehovah God.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” told the people of Israel that they were giving testimony their own selves to the fact that they would “serve” Jehovah God, and the people of Israel confirmed they would indeed bear record of it. God is committed to us, and He wants us to be committed to Him. He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to bear “witness” of Him in the world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how Joshua says, “put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

We Will Serve the LORD - Joshua 24:21

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he has done you good”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-one of Joshua, “ the people of Israel said to Joshua, “No; but we will serve the LORD” where we read,

And the people said unto Joshua, No; but we will serve the LORD.

The verse reads, “And the people said unto Joshua, No;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the people said” which means “and the human beings of Israel uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto Joshua” or “to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation and was son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan”, “No” which means “not in any manner”. Joshua or the writer shared how the human beings of Israel proclaimed they would not in any way abandon Jehovah God to “serve” other deities.

The verse continues, “but we will serve the LORD.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “but we” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover we, the people of Israel” “will serve the LORD” or “shall worship, labor and work for Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel declared that they would worship and work for Jehovah God.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the people of Israel declared that they would not abandon Jehovah God but would rather worship and labor for Him. God wants it this way because those who follow Him are blessed and benefited by it. God loves people, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to “serve” Him all the days of our lives. (See John 3:16; 14:6; Mark 10:44)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how “Joshua said unto the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

If You Forsake the LORD - Joshua 24:20

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty of the book of Joshua, Joshua said, “If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt” where we read,

If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt,

and consume you, after that he has done you good.

The verse reads, “If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “if you forsake the LORD” which means “whether and in case you, the people of Israel, leave, depart from, abandon and neglect Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “and serve strange gods” or “and worship, labor and work foreign, alien and heathen deities”, “then he will turn and do you hurt” which means “at that time he, Jehovah God, shall retreat and withdraw from you, the people of Israel and perform bad, displeasure, injury and vexation upon you, the people of Israel”. Joshua told the people of Israel whether and in case they abandoned Jehovah God to work and labor for alien and foreign deities, Jehovah God would retreat from them and cause displeasure and vexation to come upon them.

The verse goes on to say, “and consume you, after that he has done you good.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and consume you” which means “and waste away, exhaust and destroy you, the people of Israel”, “after he has done you good” or “following the time he, Jehovah God, has performed and produced joy, pleasure and that which is beautiful and cheerful upon you, the people of Israel”. Joshua told the people of Israel if they abandoned Jehovah God that He would devour and destroy them following the time that He produced joyful and cheerful acts upon them.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” continued to warn the people of Israel concerning their activities in the future. The consequences for abandoning Jehovah God and “serving” foreign deities would be that Jehovah God would retreat from them and cause them to suffer harm to the point of devouring them even though He previously performed beautiful and pleasurable acts upon them. God wants people to follow Him, obey Him and stay close to Him, and when we turn away from Him, we suffer for it. God loves us, and He proved His love toward us when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us to live in a close, never abandoning relationship with Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8: Revelation 4:11)

Next time Joshua shares how the people of Israel say to Joshua, “No; but we will serve the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Monday, August 24, 2026

You Cannot Serve the Holy LORD - Joshua 24:19

In the book of Joshua, we learned how the people of Israel said to Joshua, “the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed. And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse nineteen of Joshua, “Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God” where we read,

And Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

The verse reads, “And Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” and was “the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan” “said unto the people” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the human beings of Israel”, “you cannot serve the LORD” which means “you, the people of Israel, are unable and incapable of Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”: “for he is an holy God” or “because, since and on account that he, Jehovah God, exists as a sacred, pure and set apart Supreme Deity”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” told the people of Israel they were incapable of “serving” Jehovah God because He is sacred and pure.

The verse goes on to say, “he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “he is a jealous God” which means “he, Jehovah God, exists as a covetous, desirous and begrudging Supreme Deity”; “he will not forgive your transgressions” or “he, Jehovah God, shall in no way or manner bear up, sustained or endure your, the people of Israel’s, rebellious acts” “nor your sins” which means “no and not in any way your, the people of Israel’s, occasions of offense”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” told the people of Israel that Jehovah God exists as a covetous and desirous Supreme Deity, and He would in no way sustain their “rebellious acts” nor their occasions of offense.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” set the bar of acceptance before Jehovah God very high. He told the people of Israel that because God is holy, He would in no way “forgive” their rebellious acts or occasions of offense. We can imagine how frightening this statement was to them. God will not forgive sins or grant eternal life to us unless we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of everyone and rose from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”. Because “there is none righteous, no, not one” (See Romans 3:10) we are all in need of a “Savior”, and only Jesus paid the price for our sins. When we put our trust and faith in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to help us confess our sins so we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness. (See 1 John 1:9)

Next time Joshua shares how Joshua said, “If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The LORD Drove Out All People - Joshua 24:18

In the book of Joshua, we learned how the people of Israel told Joshua, “the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse eighteen of the book of Joshua, the people of Israel said, “the LORD drove out from before us all the people”, where we read,

And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

The verse reads, “And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the LORD” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “drove out from before us” or “cast away, thrust out and expelled in front and in the presence of the people of Israel” “all the people” which means “each, the whole and every one of the human beings”, “even the Amorites” or “also and indeed the Amorites whose name means ‘a sayer’ and were one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt” “which dwelt in the land” which means “who lived, abided and inhabited the territory, region, district and country”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel acknowledged that Jehovah God expelled the people of the territories including the “Amorites” who lived within the country.

The verse continues, “therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “therefore will we also serve the LORD” which means “wherefore, then and on this account shall we, the people of Israel, even so and indeed worship, labor and work for Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”; “for he is our God” or “because, since and on account that he, Jehovah God, exists as our, the people of Israel’s, Supreme Deity”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel concluded that they would even so and indeed labor and work for Jehovah God because He was their Supreme Deity.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the people of Israel concluded and decided that they would “serve” Jehovah God. Jehovah God alone expelled the people of the promise land including the “Amorites” who lived there from their country, and because of this, Jehovah God alone would be their Supreme Deity. God wants to be exclusive in our lives, and because He alone sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to live according to that truth so we “serve” Him alone as we make our way through the world. (See Luke 4:8; John 3:16; 16:!3; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua shares how “Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…