We all serve someone or something, be it our employer, school, country or church. There are very few who are completely free of these obligations. And that is unavoidable in our world. But Joshua challenges us to choose our ultimate loyalty or allegiance. There are many temptations and challenges, but we must choose the one who is most important to us. That is where our heart will be. For the Israelites, it was their God - the one who had saved them and brought them into the Promised Land. For us, it should be this same God and His Son Jesus. In our work, study, and play, God should be first.

The model of marriage the author of Ephesians proposes is a relationship in which both partners seek the good and happiness of the other. Any good relationship should be based on this instead of domination and inequality.

Some of the words of Jesus were hard to accept, and many left his company. Peter speaks for the rest of them: we don't quite understand, but we are sure that you know what you are talking about. You are the only one who has the words of eternal life. Where else can we possibly go? By surrendering in faith, they don't receive immediate or easy answers. There are many things that we don't understand, even some things we don't agree with. But if we are faithful to the Lord, he will be faithful to us. Understanding only comes with patience and perseverance.