More Than Stories

More Than Stories
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness.” -Joshua 24:14

 Joshua 24 contains the final sermon of one of Israel’s greatest leaders – a man named Joshua. Joshua led the Israelites through the conquest of Canaan and gave them their inheritance in the Promised Land. As he prepares to die, he recounts God’s great work in and for Israel since the time of Abraham down to the present day. After spending thirteen verses recounting Israel’s story, he says two very important words: “now therefore.”
 
These two words represent the turn from doctrine to application, from “what to so what,” from “what has God done for me” to “what does God require of me.” Joshua’s conclusion is very straightforward: because of what the Lord has done for you, “fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness.”
 
This “now therefore” pattern is evident all throughout Scripture. Consider, for example, Paul’s letters in the New Testament. Paul followed the “now therefore pattern” in every letter he wrote. The first half of Paul’s letters consist of doctrine – of what God has done for us. Then, about the halfway point, Paul makes a turn and begins to tell us what we must do because of what God has done for us.
 
This pattern teaches us that the stories of the Bible are more than stories. The stories are told not primarily for entertainment or academic instruction, but to provoke a response. So, Christian, as you read your Bible, don’t only ask, “What has God done for me?” You should also ask, “What does God require of me?”
 
Your Pastor and Friend,
 
John Knox Foster