It’s a simple yet profound question that changes the trajectory of our lives. When you think about, everything hinges on this one question.
Whom will you serve? Who do you choose?
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.” – Joshua 24:15
I’ve served many gods in my lifetime, even after becoming a believer. Just last week I found myself serving another god. How is that possible, you ask? How can I be a Christian and serve another god? How can I choose that if I really proclaim the name of Christ? I would go out on a limb and say for my fellow believing friends reading this post, I bet you’ve served other gods as well.
When Joshua made this bold statement he was declaring to all the Israelites exactly who he and his family would serve. His desire was for all people to serve the Lord, but he couldn’t make them. He could lead them to God, but He couldn’t make them serve Him. Man, I wish it were that easy! Yet he courageously stood before the crowd and said, without wavering, “We will serve the Lord.”
Joshua had to set firm boundaries with those around him. He wasn’t willing to waver. He wasn’t willing to conform to the world for popularity. He faced the possibility of rejection head on because His relationship with God was more important.
Can we say the same for our lives? I want to. I desperately want to.
Each day we choose to serve God or ourselves.
Earlier I stated that I bet we’ve all still served other gods, even after giving our lives to Christ and deciding we wanted a relationship with God. How so?
Speaking for myself, I can get myself into a mess when I choose to serve the god of gluttony. I can’t stuff my emotions with food and at the same time say, “As for me, I will serve the Lord.” It’s impossible. I choose one or the other.
We can’t keep so busy at work that we refuse to focus on the struggles at home and truly say, “As for me, I will serve the Lord.” We either serve the god of busyness or we serve the Lord. We don’t get to choose both.
We can’t scroll through Facebook each day for an inspirational quote and consider that our quiet time, then wonder why we’re so full of bitterness and hatred. Oh how easy it is to get sucked into the god of distraction, then wonder why our hearts are empty. We either serve the Lord or we serve distraction. We can’t do both.
We can’t get drunk on Saturday night and show up to church Sunday for communion and expect that everything will be fine for us. We either choose the god of drunkenness or we choose the God of life. We don’t get to choose both.
We can’t sleep with that man or woman and expect shame not to chase us around like a crazy rooster. We either serve the god of perversion or we choose to serve the Lord. We don’t get to choose both.
How often do you find yourself choosing the temporary moments of the worldly pleasures versus choosing to serve the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength? I’m guilty too, my friend.
Whom do you choose today?
Today. That’s where we’re at. We’re not in yesterday. We’re not in tomorrow. We’re in today. Right here. Right now.
And it’s in this day. This moment. This right now we get to choose whom we will serve. God or the world?
The enemy is trying to remind me of the god of gluttony I served a few days ago. But my Heavenly Father reminds me who I am in Him. He reminds me that I am forgiven. I am cherished. I am loved. I am washed white as snow. He also reminds me that if I take my eyes off of Him, I will fall again.
And it’s in that moment that I utter a simple prayer…. “Make my heart’s desire to serve You.”
[ctt template=”3″ link=”f5Rme” via=”yes” ]Today. That’s where we’re at. We’re not in yesterday. We’re not in tomorrow. We’re in today. Right here. Right now. [/ctt]
I don’t know what you did yesterday. I don’t know what you did last weekend. I don’t know what you did five minutes ago. You and God know though, and I encourage you, if you haven’t already, to sit down and talk to Him about it. He has so much to say to you, and anything that is degrading or shameful is from the condemner, not the forgiver.
Choose life today. Choose it in this moment. Choose it in this breath. God will guide you through that breath, then the next, then the next. Just don’t take your eyes off of Him.
Yes… reminding myself of this truth.
Some reflection questions for you.
Here are some great reflection questions I wrote down from the Abide devotional I use in the mornings.
- What choices have I made that reflect who I’ve chosen to serve?
- Who’s joining you in serving the Lord?
- Who draws you away from the loyalty of the Lord that you need to cut ties with?
- What boundary will you draw that serves only the Lord?
- Will you choose to serve God no matter what others think or say?
Praying for me. Praying for you.