Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV, excerpts)
Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. … But if
serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, … But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Choices. Our day is
full of choices. The day usually begins when we decide whether to turn off the
alarm or hit the snooze button. Our morning routines are built around choices
including choices on what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, etc. We choose to
put on both socks, then both shoes—or, we choose to put on one sock and shoe,
then the other sock and shoe. Most of our daily choices are so routine to us they
become part of our muscle memory and we rarely realize we are in fact making a
choice at all.
As we explore today’s
scripture passage, we find that inside the promised land and beginning a new
life of freedom from oppression, Joshua presented choices to the people of Israel.
The choice was simple. Choose to serve the LORD faithfully or choose something
else. Choose the morality of God which is constant or choose the morality of men
that fluctuates with each situation, whim, or self-desire. They people chose to
serve the LORD, but they forgot to choose faithfulness. Thus time and again making
choices to follow the morality of men into years of unrest, slavery,
oppression, fear and anxiety. The choice to follows the ways of men seldom
succeeds. Friends, this was during the 1300s BC, nearly 3000 years ago.
Contrary to the
history revisionists of our time, our nation was founded upon the choice to be “one
nation under GOD.” That is what we
wanted as a nation. We chose to serve the LORD, but we forgot to choose
faithfulness. Thus time and again making choices to follow the morality of men
into years of unrest, slavery, oppression, fear and anxiety. Sound familiar?
Yes, indeed, we have come so far since the earliest days of our nation, making
tremendous progress in many areas. But the choice remains the same today. Following
the morality of men ultimately leads to turmoil, strife, chaos, and self-destruction.
However God’s morality is constant; it does not change.
It is a choice. We
are the ones making the choice. First we must choose to acknowledge that God is
real and that he does exist. We must choose to accept Christ as our personal Lord
and Savior. We must choose to follow the morality of God each and every day and
with every decision we make. Finally, our nation must choose this day whom we
will serve, but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Our past is riddled
will failures to choose faithfulness in serving you. Forgive us as individuals and
forgive our nation’s failure to choose faithfulness in serving you. At one time
we desired to be “one nation under God,” but we have fallen further away from
that goal. Lead us back to you, first as individuals, then as a nation.
In Christ’s name we
pray, Amen.
Respectfully written and submitted by
Dotty Willmon, Resurrection Christian—looking forward to the blessed
hope of Christ’s return!
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