Be Strong in the Lord Part 3

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14–15 ESV)

This is pretty profound moment for Israel. Joshua is actually giving the people a choice. You don’t have to serve God. You don’t have to trust Him. In fact, you can put your trust in anything you want. Let me show you a few more versions…

“Or, if you are loath to serve the LORD, choose this day which ones you are going to serve” (Joshua 24:15 JPS)

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15 NIV11)

“Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve,” (Joshua 24:15 NRSV)

“If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship GOD, then choose a god you’d rather serve— and do it today.” (Joshua 24:15 MESSAGE)

Wow. That’s profound isn’t it? We are completely free to make our choice. Sometimes we think we don’t have a choice. We sometimes find ourselves thinking - ”God is God right? So I don’t really have a choice. I cannot say no to God” Well, according to Joshua - we can. We can say no. We can say - “I don’t trust you enough. I won’t serve you with sincerity. I won’t give you everything.”

When we read further, we not only see Joshua ensuring people understand they are free to make choices, but he actually goes on to DISCOURAGE them from deciding to serve God. He tells them, it’s going to be costly. It’s going to be a cross-shaped life. God is Holy. God is jealous. And those who follow Him, WILL BE CONSUMED (vv. 19-20). There are no marketing tricks. No gimmicks. No sweet talk. Why? Because the product sells itself. Good is good. True is true. Strong is strong. He is worthy of our everything, because He CAN be our everything. And He is the ONLY ONE who is Strong enough.

This is why Paul in Ephesians 6:10, after having helped us see who and what God has done - tells us “Be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might”.

Are we all as confident in God as Joshua and Paul was? As we come to the end of a very challenging year. As we begin to truly come to terms with the uncertainty of all that is around us. This is a good a time as any to ask ourselves - do we believe God is truly a good Father? Do we believe Jesus is true to His promise never to leave us nor forsake us? Do we believe in His Way - that is it truly strong - stronger than Death itself?

I pray that 2020 will be the year, you and I will look back and realize like Joshua and Paul - God is Strong. And He is worth putting our trust in. He is worth our everything.