Choose This Day | Joshua 24
Welcome to Real Life. Every hour of every day, I make choices.
Many of my choices have turned into habits, things I do without thinking: make my bed, brush my teeth, make coffee. Some are no-brainers: I need clean clothes, so I do laundry. The fridge is empty, so I buy groceries. Some are preferences: I feel like wearing pink. And then, there are the days when I make life-altering decisions: On March 5, 1983, I married my husband.
On this day in Israel’s history, Joshua calls the Children of Israel to make a life-altering decision. He’s old—110 years—and ready to die. He completed his mission. Israel has taken possession of the Promised Land. As Joshua prepares to leave this world, he calls the nation's leaders to assemble before God at Shechem. First, he reminds them of their history:
Joshua made his choice. On December 5, 1976, I chose to follow Christ. What choice will you make?
Take it further:
"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." ~Nelson Mandela
Many of my choices have turned into habits, things I do without thinking: make my bed, brush my teeth, make coffee. Some are no-brainers: I need clean clothes, so I do laundry. The fridge is empty, so I buy groceries. Some are preferences: I feel like wearing pink. And then, there are the days when I make life-altering decisions: On March 5, 1983, I married my husband.
On this day in Israel’s history, Joshua calls the Children of Israel to make a life-altering decision. He’s old—110 years—and ready to die. He completed his mission. Israel has taken possession of the Promised Land. As Joshua prepares to leave this world, he calls the nation's leaders to assemble before God at Shechem. First, he reminds them of their history:
Long ago, our forefathers worshiped false gods in Ur beyond the Euphrates. From there, God called Abraham to father a new nation in a new land. His grandson Israel’s twelve sons founded our twelve tribes. To escape a drought, the young nation relocated to Egypt. There, we were forced into slavery. God sent Moses to deliver us. I (Joshua) am an eyewitness to Israel’s miraculous exodus and occupation of Canaan. When I'm gone, will you remember God's mighty works and continue to follow him?
… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15 NIV)Living for God doesn't happen naturally. It’s a choice. It begins with a decision.
Joshua made his choice. On December 5, 1976, I chose to follow Christ. What choice will you make?
Lord Jesus, this day, I choose to follow you.
- What's my history? Where have I been and where am I going? It’s my choice. I can take control of my life and live intentionally.
- I chose to follow Christ years ago. Do my choices today still reflect that decision?
- My choices influence others for good or ill. Joshua said, “As for me and my household …”
- To not choose is to reject God:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18 NIV)
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You are right, We have to CHOOSE to follow the Lord every day. I recently saw a credo posted for the employees of a local nursing home. One of the lines read; "When you come to work each day please CHOOSE that you are having a good day." This in turn would allow the employees to help the residents to have one, as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Friend,
DeleteThank you for that excellent example of how our choices affect others! Too often, we just live and forget that the choices we make have a ripple affect. I'm so glad you stopped by. :)