The area surrounded with green hills, green
pastures, and still waters makes it an amazing summer time. The Lord blessed us
with some friendly rains in the afternoon. Our grandson Simeon was not feeling
well this weekend, but he has recovered well, and he and his family have gone to
the state of Maine for vacation, where they are attending a blue grass
festival. As I write this i can hear the morning doves singing and serenading
around the house. Their sound of music makes my heart glad and jubilant. I am
excited about this new day and brand new week that the Lord has given to each
one of us that we might serve Him, worship Him, and honor Him.
I am reminded that we are pilgrims on this
earth, marching to Zion onward , forward, and upward. Moses led the homeless
nation of Israel out of Egypt, where the people had been enslaved for several
generations. God demonstrated His power through the 10 plagues, the splitting
of the Red Sea, and the provision of food from heaven and water from a rock. He
also provided a supernatural GPS system and led them via a cloud during the day
and pillar of fire at night. Despite all of this the people still didn't have
much faith. They constantly whined and complained. It should have been about a
month-long hike to the Promised Land, but God caused them to wander in the
wilderness for nearly 40 years. Moses and his generation died before entering
the land God had promised. Joshua replaced Moses as the leader of God's people
and brought them into the Promised Land.
By the time we come toJoshua
24 , Joshua was an old man, about 110. At this part of the
story, Joshua had been a general through many wars. He had seen the walls of
Jericho come thundering down in miraculous fashion. He had fought the battles,
and he bore the scars—and the wisdom and faith that grows and deepens with the
struggle.
Joshua seemed to know he didn't have much time left in this world. He gathered the people of Israel together for what was apparently a farewell address. He stood and the assembly turned toward him expectantly. He no longer was the pow¬erful figure he once was, but still his voice carried power (see Josh. 24:14-15). Joshua got right to the point and issued a challenge: It's time for the people to make a choice. The people can follow the Lord God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or they can choose a different god. It's time to select a god to follow, to accept a worldview and allow it to remake them.
"It's up to you," Joshua said, "but I can tell you this much: As for me and my house, our decision is made. We know whom we will serve; you must make your own choice." Although Joshua was a commander, a general used to giving orders, he knew a choice must be made. No one can be ordered into the kingdom of God. It's a path individuals must choose. Upon closer inspection, we find many are sacrificing a great deal on the altars of power, pleasure or finance—it's really all the same: People are choosing their gods and bringing their offerings. At the end of the day, the real offering is one's self.
Philosopher Peter Kreeft puts it this way: "The opposite of theism is not atheism; it's idolatry." In other words, everyone is going to worship a god. We were created to be worshipers. The question for us is: Who or what will be the object of our worship?
In Christ,
By the time we come to
Joshua seemed to know he didn't have much time left in this world. He gathered the people of Israel together for what was apparently a farewell address. He stood and the assembly turned toward him expectantly. He no longer was the pow¬erful figure he once was, but still his voice carried power (see Josh. 24:14-15). Joshua got right to the point and issued a challenge: It's time for the people to make a choice. The people can follow the Lord God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or they can choose a different god. It's time to select a god to follow, to accept a worldview and allow it to remake them.
"It's up to you," Joshua said, "but I can tell you this much: As for me and my house, our decision is made. We know whom we will serve; you must make your own choice." Although Joshua was a commander, a general used to giving orders, he knew a choice must be made. No one can be ordered into the kingdom of God. It's a path individuals must choose. Upon closer inspection, we find many are sacrificing a great deal on the altars of power, pleasure or finance—it's really all the same: People are choosing their gods and bringing their offerings. At the end of the day, the real offering is one's self.
Philosopher Peter Kreeft puts it this way: "The opposite of theism is not atheism; it's idolatry." In other words, everyone is going to worship a god. We were created to be worshipers. The question for us is: Who or what will be the object of our worship?
In Christ,
Pastor Brownhttps://youtu.be/CoxopsRSfdU
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