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"The Fundamental Choice"
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
It was a great joy to proclaim God's Word yesterday. As I concluded my message and was giving the final benediction I quoted the daily verse as a reaffirmation of my choice to serve the Lord. I also challenged the believers to make that same choice and of course for many of them it was a recommitment of a decision they had made many years earlier.
We will all make many, many choices this new year. Life is just full of choices and decision-making, from tiny daily choices such as what brand of soap to purchase or what to have for dinner to major, life altering decisions such as our choice for a mate. However there is one fundamental choice we all share.
Some 3,400 years ago Joshua gave his final challenge to the children of Israel. He had lived a life of steadfast commitment to God. He's first mentioned in Scripture as the trusted commander of Moses' army shortly after they crossed the Red Sea during the Exodus. He, along with Caleb, was one of only two spies to bring back a faith-filled report that essentially said, "With God's help we can do it!"
He had faithfully served under Moses during the 40-year period in the wilderness and now had himself led God's people in the conquest for some 25 years. He's now 110 years old and musters enough strength for a final challenge to faith that rings through the ages.
He called for the people to "fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness." He set the choice clearly before them with these words, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." In the context of the time the fundamental choice was between the true God and "the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living."
In a broader sense the choice now and in every generation is between the true God and what the apostle Paul called "the God of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The people then and now have this fundamental choice, for the true God does not force people to love and serve Him.
Joshua sets a great example for the people of his time and through all subsequent ages, including our own. Let us begin another year by joining him and proclaiming this day, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's prayer: God, You have drawn us with an everlasting love; You have drawn us with your loving kindness. This new year Your bountiful provision overflows with the material, physical and spiritual blessings that only a loving, caring heavenly Father can give. Thank you for providing generously for us in the past and promising that your supply will never be exhausted in the future. We choose this year and this day to follow You and declare to all who will hear, "As for me and my household we will serve the Lord."
As I was searching for music to go along with this message I considered a song by "Point of Grace" called "I Choose You". However in my search I came across another song by the same title by a musician with a remarkable testimony of perseverance.
"I Choose You" by Point of Grace (sample only)
"I Choose You" Maureen Pranghofer (full song)
Today's message is sent out much earlier than usual. I have an opportunity in my chaplain work to share a message with a group of pastors and FedEx drivers. I enjoy ministry to truck drivers in part due to that being what my father-in-law did for a living. Like many males I also really enjoy trucks and took this photo last week of an Amish pickup truck. This is one of many distinctive sights in our area!
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
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