We will Serve the Lord!

Joshua 24:14-15 (New Living Translation)
 ¹⁴ “So fear 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. ¹⁵ 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.”

I love this verse, I love the speech Joshua is giving to the people of Israel. He presents them with a choice, the same choice we have today! Will I serve God, or will I serve the world, money, sin, etc... But he says - CHOOSE today - as in, Make up your mind now - and either choose to serve or God, or choose something. As an extremely indecisive person I can relate to how making decisions makes me nervous or anxious. I do not like making big decisions, but here he is demanding they choose. He has just finished reminding them of all the amazing things God has brought them through - all the ways He has rescued them from their enemies and brought them to the promised land! So, their choice should be easy - right? Choose to serve God!

I wonder sometimes though, how easy it looks for us too. When I think about ALL that God has done for me, the incredible, uncountable ways he has blessed me and rescued me - how could I not serve Him alone? What an encouragement though, to think back over the ways God has shown his amazing love for me and then joyfully serve Him through any circumstance. Brother David said that happiness depends on my happenings... which is so neat to explain it that way, but God has given us a deep joy - that through whatever, we can serve Him! 

I can get so tempted to serve something else. To better myself or feel like I deserve praise. How crazy... my flesh is weak, but thankful the Holy Spirit in me conquers that flesh and kills it. My prayer lately has been for a humbleness... a humility - a brokenness before God. "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 (NIV)" To think of myself in sober judgment, not more than I am... to be so humble. And Praise God, He is answering that prayer and its beautiful. Its so beautiful and freeing to be His servant, and not whatever I think I'm supposed to be or should deserve to be! I deserve nothing, but by His grace, I'm His beloved! And I will serve Him for all of my days.