Choices
Joshua 24:14-15
Proposition: Choose God!
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and for their judges and for their officers and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, Hear what the Lord of Israel says. Your fathers resided on the other side of the flood in old time. Even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other Gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood and led him throughout all the land of Canaan and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir. To possess it; but Jacob and his children went to Egypt. I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red Sea. And when they cried unto the Lord he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness for a long season. And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side of Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land: and I destroyed them from before you. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: But I would not hearken unto Balaam therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand. And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho; and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites and the Girgashites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. And I sent the hornet before you. Which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which you did not build and you dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which you planted not you have eaten.
Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve. Whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Every time we pick up the Bible and read in the Old Testament, we find the children of Israel in yet another quandary. Slavery, Lost in the wilderness, hungry, thirsty, trapped, in battles against armies with stronger force....in each trial they were eventually blessed with a victory, but each victory was short lived and quickly forgotten by the thankless lot as indicated by their choices.
Mumbling and grumbling instead of thankfulness. Whining and complaining instead of faithfulness. Looking everywhere and elsewhere for help instead of waiting on their helper. Worshipping gods made by hand instead of leaning on the one who had all power in his hands. Repeatedly in the scriptures we find that they didn’t need much persuasion to choose anything and everything but to God! MMMMMMMMMMMMM much like us today.
We find Joshua calling the children of Israel together to talk about their wavering convictions and commitment to God. Reprimanding just as Elijah did on Mount Carmel and Hosea prophesied about Ephraim. Angered by the level of the ungrateful attitude of this group of people who had the hand of God upon them but chose to look to bronze and silver idols to worship. Joshua’s level of anger is evident when he tells the Israelites to choose whom they are going to serve....one or the other! Then reinforcing his level of faith in God, he let’s them know that he and his household will serve Jehovah!
Choices!
We live in a free country. One of the incredible freedoms we have in our nation is to be able to make choices.
We have choices each day. We choose rather or not we will get out of bed or lay in all day. We choose rather or not we will shower and dress or not each day. We choose outfits from our wardrobe. Shoes from our closets. We choose what to eat. Choices. We chose the automobiles we drive. The neighborhoods in which we reside. We can even choose the color of our eyes and hair and yes with the assistance of makeup, we can chose the color of our complexion. Choices!
We can make choices in every area of our lives, including in our Christian spiritual lives. Making choices about how we will abide in Gods will or attempt it our way. We choose rather or not to be cordial or petulant. We choose to be loving or hateful. We choose to be charitable or selfish. Choices. We choose to do right or do wrong. We choose to serve God or not serve God. We chose to be humble or filled with pumped up pride. We choose to worship and praise God or not. We choose to pray or not to pray. We choose to gather together to worship God or stay home and watch Creflo Dollar. Choices.....
God has given each of us the freedom to choose.
But Joshua wanted the people of Israel and us to understand there is a reaction to our actions or what is known as cause and effect!
In our choices, the right way is not oft times the easy way. But to live a life that is Holy, one must strive to choose the direction of God.
We must understand, how we function in life is determined by our choices. If we chose to ignore a bill that is due, then we must pay the penalty or late fees that are applied. If we chose to let our laundry pile up, then we must deal with no clean items to wear. If we chose not to go to the grocery store, then we must deal with bare cabinets. If we chose to miss work repeatedly, then we must deal with being fired. If we disrespect the teacher at school, then me must deal with being sent to detention. Same thing goes for serving God.
If we chose to serve the mighty dollar instead of God, then we should not become angry because we can’t pay our bills. If we put our trust in the lottery instead of looking to the master of the sea, then why become upset when your numbers don’t hit. When you place your trust and hope in the preacher and not in the preached word, then when that person falls short and your expectations are dashed.
In order for our lives to be full, we must choose the will of God. In order to do this, one must pray and be in communication with God. Asking for direction in all decisions so that your choices will be fruitful and not fretful.
Choices!
We must not serve the god of material things
1 Timothy 6:10 "for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Not saying being prosperous is negative or against God. But when you place your trust and your hope in the dollar bill is when your troubles begin. Look around, the lottery gets larger and larger each week as people flock in groves to purchase an opportunity for security. But you see, that is placing your trust in something other than God. But if you know that God is rich in houses and land, and you know him as your father, then why would you have to purchase an opportunity to be blessed by him. Choice!
We must avoid serving the god of pleasure:
If we read Luke 15:11-13, we find a portion of the story of the prodigal son, where the younger son decides that he wants all his inheritance now so that he may have some enjoyment. Living high and mighty, had a whole lot of friends while he had some cash. Squandering all that he had living wild - loose - and free. We have this going on today from the house on the corner to the White House. Teaching "if it feels good, do it" Folk being unfaithful to their spouses and family. How can we expect to be faithful to God, whom we have not seen, if we cannot be faithful to those whom we see day after day after day. Choices.
Beware of the god of self and pride!
This is one that is most common and most dangerous. This one draws us into serving the other gods that we mentioned. You see, first we get this attitude, that as long as we make it to at least one church service a week, we have done our Christian duty. The only time we have to "act" holy is from 9:30 - 12:30 on Sunday morning (if we make it to Sunday school) But, first of all to choose to be a Christian, it is no an act its a lifestyle, and second it is a 24/7 activity. It is a humbling experience one that many take for granted. But through out the scriptures we find the demise caused by self pride. When believers become full of self and feel they don’t need God to make decisions. Losing fellowship with him. Losing focus on the mission and vision of the church. Forgetting that it is not about the fact that you hold an office or chair a program. It is not about your name being in print or someone acknowledging your accomplishments. But we must remember as Christians, we are watched by non-Christians. If we talk Jesus but don’t live Christ like - inside and outside the church, then we are sending out the wrong message to the ones that we are witnessing to. You see the world hears the gospel when it sees the gospel.
Talking about Choices!
You see Bethel, I am calling you together this morning. The entire congregation. Stewards, and trustees, auxiliary officers and choir member and everyone else. Calling you to remind you that you have been called over from the other side. You were once a sinner condemned by your deeds, but now a sinner saved by grace. The same God that brought the children of Israel out of bondage, brought our forefathers out of slavery. The same God that allowed the children of Israel to be victorious in battle against those who wanted to oppress, has allowed us an opportunity for better treatment by those who would prefer to suppress us. The same God who provided manna from heaven, provides us with substance of nourishment for our bodies. He want’s us to understand, we don’t have to serve the lottery, and we don’t have to serve the dollar bill. We don’t have to serve the nature of our desires. We don’t even have to serve him. But he want’s us to choose whom we will serve. But I want you to know that as for me and my house! I chose to serve the Lord!
Choices
Who are you going to serve. Choices
What reaction do you want from your action. Choices......
