“And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” Joshua 24:19
Joshua wasn’t saying that no matter what they did, they could not serve God. But based on what they were minded for, it wasn’t going to happen.
When people are minded to allow things and ways that differ with God’s Word, they are not minded unto serving God.
Joshua is not alone as a minister, in recognizing variance with the Word of God in the congregation. Every preacher has sadly seen those who don’t take root in really following God’s ways altogether, even though they attend church. The outcome is predictable.
Not all who start with the truth, stay with the truth: “Ye did run well: who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” Galatians 5:7 Opposition and arguments against God’s ways exist everywhere and are of the very strong persuasion of worldly wisdom. The Devil wrestled the truth of God’s Word from Eve’s mind and substituted a favorable attitude in her thinking for that which was contrary to God’s Word. From that point on, it was no longer a matter of how good a person she was, or whose spouse she was. It was all about the result of departing from the truth of God’s Word. What really eliminated any possible solution, was Adam’s support for Eve, in following her in what she had done.
What is essential to serve God:
Joshua 24:23 “…incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel”
Psalm 78:1 “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”
Psalm 119:36,112 “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.”
