Devotion 11/17, We Will Serve the Lord!

If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Oh, how I love this verse! What a great verse to start our day. What a wonderful declaration to make, but a hard one to keep, it doesn’t come without struggle. We live in a sinful fallen world that wants to pull us into their ungodly way of living and out of God’s holy and pleasing lifestyle. It is a daily choice to serve the Lord, isn’t it?

We are told in Hebrews 10 that we are “set apart as holy” for God. Because of Jesus’ blood sacrifice of Himself for us.
Just as Joshua announced to the people of Israel to choose which god they were going to serve, this very same statement can be addressed to us today. Joshua basically said they could serve whatever god they chose, but he was going to serve the only true God, for there is only One!
You may say, “Well I have decided to not serve any god.” But you see that is not possible, you are either serving the only true God of the Bible, or you are serving a false god of the devil. There is no inbetween. Whatever is first in your life is your “god”. It may be money, power, control, career, another person,….etc., but make no mistake about it, it is your “god”. There IS only one true God, I choose to follow Him!

The good news is that you can choose to serve the true God that Joshua is referring to in the last part of the verse! He is a God of grace, mercy, and love. But He is also a God of justice. He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins and restore you to Himself. By placing your faith in the blood of Christ that was shed for you, your sins are forgiven and you become a child of God (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8-9, Hebrews 9:12, John 3:16, Acts 16:31). However, God will not force you to place your faith in His Son. He has given every person a free will to choose for themselves, but you leave Him no choice but to send you to hell when you die if you reject the only way to God and eternal life that He offers you, which is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

So, who do you choose to serve today, who is your god?

Give me wisdom, O tender Lord, on how to lead my family to love you more. Please bless my parents and thank you for their faith. Please give me courage and sensitivity so that we can effectively share your truth. O God, please bless those parents who are seeking to raise godly children. We want our house to be a place where you are known, appreciated, honored, and loved. In Jesus’ name I humbly ask it. Amen.

Satan is truly afraid of you Lord! I pray with thanks for all you are and all you ever will be, that those who have not found you or deny you find You and your Way. And for those that believe I pray they stand steadfast in You and their faith. Keep us focused on You as we enter this world today, that others will see you in us. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.