As humans we each have been born with free will. Free will is being able to choose between different courses of action. When we come to an intersection, we have the choice of turning left, right or going straight. The choice is ours alone.
A relationship with God is no different. It is our choice to pursue it, or to turn our back and walk away. God is not sitting in heaven with a video game controller forcing us to follow any set path. His desire is for us to choose Him and in doing so, life.
In the final chapter of the book of Joshua, Joshua’s life is drawing to a close after living his life for God, leading the Children of Israel. It is in this chapter that he shares his final words with them and verse 15 says: 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.
The important phrase in the first part of this verse is "this day" or "the indicated day". This means I have to choose to serve God TODAY and chose again when I wake up tomorrow. Each day, it is my choice if I am going to follow and serve Him or not.
1 Corinthians 15:31 says: I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ our Lord, I die daily.
In the Gospels, Jesus told his disciples that any man not willing to take up his cross daily and follow Him is not worthy of Him. (Matthew 10:38, Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24, Luke 14:27, Mark 8:34, Mark 10:21) Are we going to be perfect every moment of every day, even when we purpose in our hearts when we wake up that we are going to serve God that day? No. Matthew 26:41 says: Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. This means we must guard our hearts so that we walk in the Spirit. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 We serve God on and with purpose.
I am not one who believes that you are once saved, always saved. I believe that we can choose to walk away from our salvation, but I also believe that we can not walk far enough away from Him that He won't be right there to pick us right back up, dust us off, and forgive us. The choice is ours. When we choose to serve Him, what are we choosing? Life, peace, joy, hope, goodness, righteousness, holiness, faith... EVERYTHING. When we choose Him, we are choosing everything. Today is the day to rise up and declare, As for me and my house, WE SHALL SERVE THE LORD.
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