Joshua challenged God's people with choosing whom they would serve. "Choose whether you will serve the gods of your fathers which were beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord" (Josh.24:15). They pledged that they also would serve the Lord (vs.18,21,24). Joshua told them to put away their idols and stay true to the Lord. Interesting that Paul made a similar appeal to the Corinthians and by extension every believer in 2Corinthians 6. Believers are to be distinct and separate from any mixing of our faith with paganism and practices contrary to God's Word. We are, as Paul says, the temple of God--referring to the Church universal. But so is the local assembly (1Cor.3:16) as well as individual believers (1Cor.6:19-20).

Pretty sobering and exciting to realize that the God of the universe takes up residence among us, walks among us, is our God and we are His people--His sons and daughters (2Cor.6:14-18). What a blessed privilege. Let us take action to sever ourselves from what has no place in God's temple as rejoice in what it means to be God's children.