March 17, 2024

Rēad to Read …Again

Daily Reading: Joshua 22-24

Joshua 24:15

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.

Some words echo louder than others. Joshua’s statement in today’s verse is an example. The phrase …but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD is an ideal that has inspired many generations of believers in the Lord God of heaven and earth. Yes, God deals with the entire world; yes, He deals with nations; yes, he deals with families, and yes, He deals with individuals. Individuals make up families, families make up nations, nations make up the world population. He deals with them all, collectively and individually.

Frankly, there is little that one individual can do to impact a nation or the world, but every individual can impact their family. Joshua did impact a nation and he impacted the world, for such is the opportunity of a few select individuals. But for the rest of us, we would do well to consider ourselves and our families. Will we serve the Lord? An American minister by the name of Horace Bushnell wrote, “Every man’s life is a plan of God.” That statement means that every person was born for a purpose. Some would think that purpose to be to obtain fortunes, popularity, experiences, or service to others. But perhaps the purpose of life is more basic; to find and live the plan of God. That purpose may be riches, popularity, adventure, or service, but those would be the outgrowth of fulfilling God’s plan.

Hans Christian Anderson, the Danish writer and poet, made a similar statement when he wrote: “Every man’s life is a fairy tale, written by God’s fingers.”  While these men wrote no part of the Bible, they seemed to resonate the thought that God is personally involved in every person’s life and every person should be personally involved with the Lord God throughout their life.

Each person of every walk of life regardless of their socio-economic standing or intellectual ability has the same opportunity to serve the Lord or not. This is the great debate of the soul. Will I serve myself, or will I serve God? Joshua made up his mind and encouraged his family to do the same. May we be so inclined. For after all, Romans 15:4 reminds us… For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Joshua’s determination at the end of his life to meaningfully continue to serve his God proves that a lifetime of service to Him is well worth it all. If not this great servant of God would not have uttered such a tremendous statement. A statement that has encouraged, invigorated, revived, and refreshed millions of true believers throughout the thousands of years since uttered.

Dr. William T. Howe