<p><em>In Sincerity and Truth</em></p><p><em>What </em>did Joshua appeal to the Israelites to do? (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Josh%2024:14-15&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Josh. 24:14-15</a>). What does it mean to serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth?</p><p>Joshua’s appeal clearly expresses the fact that Israel has to decide to whether, through loyalty to their Creator, to keep their uniqueness and live in the land, or to fade back into being one among many idolatrous peoples, with no clear identity, purpose, or mission. The choice is theirs.</p><p>Joshua’s appeal is twofold: Israel should fear the Lord and serve Him “in sincerity and in truth.” To fear the Lord does not mean a life of perpetual trembling and emotional insecurity. It rather refers to the reverence and awe that stem from the recognition of the unfathomable greatness, holiness, and infinity of God on the one hand and our smallness, sinfulness, and finitude on the other. To fear God is a constant awareness of the magnitude of His demands, a recognition that He is not only our heavenly Father but also our Divine King. Such awareness will lead to a life of obedience to God (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lev%2019:14&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Lev. 19:14</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lev%2025:17&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Lev. 25:17</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut%2017:19&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Deut. 17:19</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2017:34&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">2 Kings 17:34</a>). While “fear” describes the inner attitude that must characterize an Israelite, the practical outcome of reverence to God is service.</p><p>The service that is required of Israel is characterized by two Hebrew terms: “in sincerity” and “in truth.” The first term (<em>tamim</em>) is mostly used as an adjective to describe the perfection of the sacrificial animal. The second term that describes Israel’s service is “truth,” or “faithfulness” (Heb. ’<em>emet</em>). The term generally connotes constancy and stability. It usually refers to God, whose character is intrinsically characterized by faithfulness, which is manifested toward Israel.</p><p>A faithful person is somebody who is dependable and trustworthy. Basically, Joshua is asking Israel to demonstrate the same loyalty to God that God has displayed toward His people in the course of their history. It is not merely outward compliance to His requirements but what springs from an undivided inner consistency of the heart. Their lives should reflect gratefulness to God for what He has done for them. Basically, it is how we today should relate to Jesus, as well.</p><p>What does it mean to you to serve the Lord “in sincerity” and “in truth”? What are some of the distracting factors in your life that prevent your full devotion to God?</p><p></p>