Choose This Day

The Promised Land.
After 40 years, a new generation could finally enter the land God had promised.

I love this story and reading about God's love through this time.  A constant, unwavering love of a Father.

This was a gift God had wanted to give so much sooner.
He rescued His people from slavery in Egypt through a series of miracles.  He brought them literally through the sea into safety, and showed His presence through constant guidance, protection, and provision.
His power and commitment were steady and clear.  They had a strong leader in Moses and a clear destination.
But...
In a matter of days, they were whining.
Complaining.  Doubting.  Retreating.  Even worshiping other gods.

In the wisdom of a Father, God orders a time-out.
The entire nation of God's people would spend 40 years in the desert.  The promise would have to wait for a new generation.
But, in His great love, God still provided for them every day.

Finally, Joshua would lead God's people into Canaan, the land He had promised.
Again, God proves Himself in mighty ways, and He even helps them establish memorials that will hold their short attention spans to God's power and provision.
The very beginning of their journey would be crossing the Jordan River.  A whole nation of people followed the priests and the Ark of the Covenant.  As soon as their feet stepped into the water, the water flow stopped, and the bed of the river became a dry path.

God was proving His power and faithfulness again to a new generation.
This time He added an order for Joshua to give:
So Joshua called together the twelve men and told them, "Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God.  Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder-twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes.  We will use these stones to build a memorial.  In the future, your children will ask, 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you can tell them, 'They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord's covenant went across.'  These stones will stand as a permanent memorial among the people of Israel. - Joshua 4:4-7

God had seen His people forget so quickly.  He was trying to help them hold their focus.

Nothing stands between God's people as they enter the land.
Jericho falls.
They win every battle against every king.
They receive the promise.

Now, they have a land of freedom and everything they need to provide for themselves.
They have a relationship with a great, loving God.
The law has already been established, so they know how to live and continue in God's favor.

Joshua warns the people that they must keep their covenant with God, or they will lose His protection.
If you break the covenant of the Lord your God by worshiping and serving other gods, His anger will burn against you, and you will quickly be wiped out from the good land He has given you. - Joshua 23:16
So honor 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.  But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose this day whom you will serve.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  - Joshua 24:14-15

Serve.
A verb. 
Your service identifies your master.  You can say who your master is, but your actions will prove what is true.
If you don't choose your master and follow through in service.  Your service (actions of your life) will choose for you.

Joshua said, "Choose."
"Choose this day."
He set the example with "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
His actions were faithful to his word, and he helped God's people hold on to the covenant.
They did well as they followed Joshua, but lost track when he died. 

Godly leadership is important, but the choice and the follow-through are very personal.

Jesus said,
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. -Luke 16:13
Your actions have to follow your intentions.

Today is our day. 
Who are we choosing?
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. - Romans 10:9-10

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  Matthew 16:24-25

That is true service.  Giving up your life.  Dying to yourself.  Obedience to your master.
Jesus is Lord.
Have you confessed Him as Lord?
So, I ask myself...
Are you serving?  Does His Lordship impact your daily decisions?
Is God in charge of your priorities?


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The Promised Land had a good start.  God's people held their covenant for a time, but again we saw them drift.  
Distracted.  Shifting priorities.
Sounds familiar.  It still happens now.

In Colossians, Paul writes to the church at Colosse, and he tells them to also share it with the church in Laodicea.  He commends them for their faithful service, but sets a clear warning.  The church was starting to waiver on some of their teaching.  They were beginning to blend their beliefs with other religions and philosophies.  It was subtle, but Paul knew the danger.

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many others who have never known me personally.  My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God's secret plan, which is Christ himself.  In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments.   Colossians 2:1-4
Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and  vigorous in the truth you were taught.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done. 
Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.  For in Christ the fullness of God lives, and you are complete through your union with Christ.  He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.  Colossians 2:6-9
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.  Use His words to teach and counsel each other.  Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through Him to God the Father. - Colossians 3:16-17

Paul knew the threat that was surrounding these churches.  They were not being persecuted - that often causes a boldness. 
The threat was the subtle persuasion.  The mixing of beliefs.  A silent battle of two masters.

Colossians - written about A.D. 60

A.D. 95
Revelation - Jesus gives John letters for seven churches
One of them - Laodicea.  Paul had warned them, and now...
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:14-22

35 years later.  A slow fade.  They had been warned.  Jesus said you cannot serve two masters.  

A mixture of hot and cold = lukewarm.

Choose this day whom you will serve.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

And remember the game changer - The Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is the reason we can now have victory.  The Spirit enables us to serve.

Salvation in Jesus, not only brought us back into relationship with God, but we have been adopted as God's children.  His very presence lives in us and through us.

So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves.  You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into His family - calling Him "Father, dear Father".  For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.  And since we are His children, we will share His treasures - for everything God gives to His Son, Christ is ours, too.  But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. - Romans 8:15-17

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

Choose This Day