By Not Known
Joshua 24:15
15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, … But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua’s commitment to the Lord uttered in verse 15 is admirable. His choice of serving God began as the aide to Moses and in particular, the beginning of leading the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. He was afraid, lack courage and was fearful because Moses had died and passed the baton to him. God knew his apprehension and encouraged and showed him the formula of success with these words, Joshua 1:7-8,”Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” His success lies in having the words of God in his heart and obeying them throughout the conquest. In other words, when he made this choice, it was not out of impulse, but out of an intimate relationship with God. This decision was made for his family too.
Furthermore, not only did Joshua renew his commitment, he also challenged the Israelites to make commitment to the Lord before they continued to conquer the remaining parts of the Promised Land. It was a choice that the Israelites need to make with the condition to give up the idols for the Lord. The Israelites made a right choice (Joshua 24:16-18).
From their commitment to the Lord, we can learn at least two lessons. Firstly, they acknowledged that God was the one who saved them and their forefathers from slavery in Egypt. Secondly, they also experienced God’s signs and wonders right before their eyes and the protection from other nations. The choice they made was based on God’s salvation and their experiences of God’s power and protection.
Last Friday, a Thanksgiving Dinner was held to thank church members who have been serving God in the various ministries for the past year. We thanked them for their willingness, faithfulness and commitment to serve. Of course we hope that more members will respond to God’s call to serve Him in the church this year. Would you, like Joshua and the Israelites make a clear and independent choice to serve the Lord, not out of pressure, but out of gratitude to serve the Lord? You have experienced His mercy and power at work in your lives as well as the strength and joy of the Lord in your hearts. Therefore, it is indeed a privilege to serve our loving and Almighty God. Would you respond to God’s voice today?
John Chew