You Choose – Part 2

Posted on December 14, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” ~Joshua 24:15

Welcome to a new week of Freedom Fighter blog posts. We thank you for taking the time to join us as we together choose to walk in victory in our lives as brothers in Christ.

Last week I shared with you that you and I are very active in the process of making choices in our lives. At the end of Joshua’s life, he, like his predecessor, Moses, challenges the children of Israel to decide who they will serve. Will they choose to follow after the foreign gods like their ancestors did, or will they choose to follow Yahweh? Joshua draws the line in the sand to declare – “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

As men living in 2015, we need to recognize that if we are going to be the men God wants us to be, we need to make that same decision. We will either choose to serve (walk in) the flesh or we will choose to walk in the Spirit.

We are very active in our growth by making right choices. God never forces Himself on us. The Holy Spirit never forces Himself on us.

Here is a fun exercise. Grab your Bible, a notepad and pen and think through Romans 12 with me. Here are some of the choices for you and me to make:

1. Let your love be genuine. (12:9)

2. Hate what is evil. (12:9)

3. Outdo one another in showing honor. (12:10)

4. Rejoice in hope. (12:12)

5. Be patient in tribulation. (12:12)

6. Be constant in prayer. (12:12)

7. Contribute to the needs of the saints. (12:13)

8. Show hospitality. (12:13)

9. Bless those who persecute you. (12:14)

10. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. (12:15)

11. Live in harmony with one another. (12:16)

12. Don’t be proud. (12:16)

13. Associate with the lowly. (12:16)

That’s quite the list. Now please hear me – some of the things on that list are impossible to do without Christ doing in through me (Galatians 2:20). But you and I have an active role in doing these things.

I can choose to live in harmony with my brothers and sisters (life) or I can choose to cause strife and sow discord (death). You’ve seen that played out in the church for sure. I know I have. You’ve seen it in the workplace.

As you read the word this week, do so through the lens of what choices will I make that will be for life or death?

I want to follow the example of Joshua – as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I’d love to hear from you, so email me at bwelte@americaskeswick.org

Written by Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick. He has been married to his child sweet heart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Josh. 10-12, Luke 16

Think About This: It is dangerous to live without your heart being captured by awe of God, because awe of God is quickly replaced by awe of you. ~Paul David Tripp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him ~Psalm 18:30