WE WILL SERVE THE LORD

Today is Monday and what a wonderful day we had at church yesterday!  God surely blessed with people saved, baptized, and three families joining the church.  We had a great time and I just love the good people of our church.  They are simply wonderful! 

Today I have this thought from Joshua 24:  WE WILL SERVE THE LORD-  Joshua is speaking to the children of Israel before he passes off the scene and reaps his reward in Paradise.  They are in the land and Joshua challenges them to live to the LORD.  In verse 15, he gives that famous statement:  "but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  Notice three things about that statement:

1) It was PERSONAL.  Joshua was talking about his family.  "me and my".  He wanted others to serve God, but his families' course was already set.  He made it crystal clear that his family was going to be serving the LORD who brought them to this good land.  Is serving God personal to you?  Is it the personal choice of your family?  Make it a personal choice by deciding yourself, and then leading your family to make the same decision.  It must be personal.

2) It was PUBLIC.  Though a personal decision, he made it known publicly.  Why?  Well, because he wanted to influence other families to do the same thing.  We make our personal decisions public to use the influence God has given us for God and for good.  We affect others, pure and simple.  Rom 14:7  "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."  We are to use our personal decisions to encourage others to make sound decisions for Christ as well.  This is why we share our testimony and have testimony times at Church as well.  Be mindful to let those around you know where you stand in a proper way.  Bold, but kind.

3) It was PERPETUAL.  It was not just for his day and for that time.  The remarks of Joshua are influencing people to live for God even today!  It has a perpetual message that speaks to my heart and resounds in the heart of every family that desires to live for Christ.  I'm sure we do not even realize this truth, but here it is:  Your life's influence goes on after you are gone!  The Bible says of Able:  Heb 11:4  "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."  So his life was gone, but his message lived on.

Let your decision to live for Jesus Christ be personal, public, and perpetual!  Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler