Serve The Lord

Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Matthew Henry writes, “Never was any treaty carried on with better management, nor brought to a better issue, than this of Joshua with the people, to engage them to serve God. The manner of his dealing with them shows him to have been in earnest, and that his heart was much upon it, to leave them under all possible obligations to cleave to him, particularly the obligation of a choice and of a covenant.”

 

The snow covered the ground, and three young boys were playing in it.  A man said to them, "Would you like to try to race, with the promise of a prize for the winner?" The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different.  "I will go to the other side of the field," he said, "and when I give you the signal, you will start to run.  The one whose footsteps are the straightest in the snow will be the winner." As the race commenced, the first boy began looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight.  The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing; but the third boy just ran on with his eyes fixed on the man on the other side of the field. The third boy was the winner, for his footsteps were straight in the snow.  He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him. A long time ago, another man using similar words taught the same principle.  It was Paul who said, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14).

We have a choice in life as to who we can serve. Joshua told the people gathered around him you can serve other gods or you can serve the true Lord. If we are to serve the Lord we are to keep our eyes fixed on Him, watching him and our steps in life will always fall straight towards him.

I pray your household would serve the Lord and that your days would go well for you even under the duress of life. I pray God would strengthen you, guide you, grant you wisdom and help you endure against temptations that will come your way. May God touch your heart and let the love of Jesus Christ shine through you to all people. Let’s us thank The Lord for His love, mercy and grace. Amen.