I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. (Josh. 7:12)

I had had enough! My oldest son was not listening to me, and I was quickly losing my patience with him. I looked at him and very sternly said, “Son, if you do not stop what you are doing, I am going to open up a can on you!” My three-year-old looked at me and, without missing a beat, asked, “What can is that dad?” His naiveté lightened my mood and kept me from doing something that I might have regretted. Looking back on the event, I don’t recall my son stopping what he was doing either. I just couldn’t stop laughing.

While in seminary, I learned a valuable lesson about the nature of God. God doesn’t talk just to hear his voice, and looking at Scripture, we can see that reality very clearly. God isn’t absentminded and certainly doesn’t give idle threats. When he speaks, he means it. What God was saying to Joshua, the leader of the Israelite army, is that you cannot have it both ways. Either you will choose him or another way. Either way, it is your choice.

Isn’t that just like God to graciously show us that we have a clear choice? God doesn’t mince words, and he very clearly reminds us that when it comes to walking with him, he will not tolerate anything devoted to destruction.

Choose to walk with God in every part of your life.

Devon Smith is district superintendent of the Tri-State District of The Wesleyan Church, and founder/director of the CROSS Training ordination program at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.