Friday July 10, 2020

Joshua 24:5-17

5 Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen [2] as far as the Red Sea. [3]7 But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time. 8 I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11 Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you–also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.

13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. 14

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.

It is clear through all Christian scripture that all of us, all humankind, were chosen by God in creation to be God’s children. We were created in God’s image. So why have we been, why are we such a mess? Why has there been, why is there such suffering, misery and brokenness? Why do we struggle so hard? Why as children of the Most High God, do we feel abandoned and mistreated?

It is a daily choice, sometimes a minute to minute choice, to live with God’s sheepfold or abide in the wild, bitter wilderness of rebellion. I challenge you to read Colossians 3:5-17. In this scripture it is quite clear what your choice is and how it will affect you. Check off the list as you read. What choices have you made? Have you embraced your “choseness” and don’t forget to let Christ’s peace control you.

By your grace and through your Spirit may I choose to serve you this day and every day. May I choose to be the child I was made to be, “fearfully and wonderfully made”. May I resemble you in all my actions, and thoughts and may the world know you through me, your child.

In Christ’s name,

Amen