Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s consider who we choose to serve.

In today’s scripture, Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT), Joshua said…
[14] “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. [15] But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Consider…
We spent a week focusing on serving. The Holy Spirit is directing me to close out the theme by emphasizing who or what we serve is our choice.

As straight forward as today’s scripture appears, I believe James 4:4-5 (ERV) offers a contemporary perspective. The Apostle wrote…
[4] You people are not faithful to God! You should know that loving what the world has is the same as hating God. So anyone who wants to be friends with this evil world becomes God’s enemy. [5] Do you think the Scriptures mean nothing? The Scriptures say, “The Spirit God made to live in us wants us only for himself.”

There are people who try to thread the needle of securing treasures here on earth, while putting Heaven on layaway. Said another way, people straddle the fence living for themselves here and now, and with God for eternity. However, Jesus said in Luke 16:13-15 (NLT)…
[13] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” [14] The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. [15] Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

There are still numerous religious actors today that value the things of this world more than they value God and His Kingdom. But Jesus knew that would be the case, which is why He warned in Matthew 7:15-18 (NLT)…
[15] “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. [16] You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. [18] A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.

The Apostle Peter, who received this message from Jesus proceeded to write 2 Peter 2:1-4 (NLT)…
[1] But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. [2] Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. [3] In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. [4] For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.

You may be wondering, what do false teachers or prophets have to do with choosing to serve the Lord? It’s this, God made Himself known to us so there’s no excuse for blindly following another person’s teaching. Romans 1:18-20 (NLT) explains…
[18] But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. [19] They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. [20] For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Now don’t misunderstand, I’m not suggesting we identify and call out false teachers and prophets, rather I am saying God holds us responsible for who and what we choose to believe and how we choose to live. I say this based on Romans 14:11-12 (NLT) which says…
[11] For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” [12] Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

This reminds me of my wife’s favorite fruit of the Spirit which is self-control.

You see the Holy Spirit wants us to recognize that although He is willing to help us live for God, it’s our choice to let Him.

Galatians 5:16 (NLT) encourages us…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The Apostle Paul also gives us practical application to choosing to live for God in Ephesians 4:21-32 (NLT). He wrote…
[21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [25] So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. [26] And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil. [28] If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. [29] Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. [30] And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. [32] Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Reading through that scripture, shows God expects us to stop doing what’s wrong and let the Holy Spirit help us do what’s right in God’s sight.

I think sometimes we mistakenly believe God’s grace absolves us from personal responsibility. Yet Romans 6:15-18 (NLT) admonishes…
[15] Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! [16] Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. [17] Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. [18] Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Notice Paul said we become a slave to whatever we CHOOSE to obey. He then tells us we have two choices, obeying sin or God!

The last thought from this passage and for the day is that we’re actually choosing death (sin) or righteous living (God).

Hopefully today’s post shows us the importance of us making the right choice to live for God!

Today’s Song is…
I Choose You Again

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)