Make choices to serve God

Joshua 24:15 reads “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves whom you will serve ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

This Scripture is a declaration of a committed man, voiced to all who would hear. Joshua made the conscious, faith-based decision to serve the Lord. His choice was not based upon man’s opinion but was a matter of his heart and obedience to God and His word.

God, who brought him through the wilderness, and past obstacles that looked impossible, remained faithful to his people. He experienced the Lord bringing them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

Joshua took his stand knowing that his God would prove faithful to all future generations.

In actuality, he was choosing a legacy that would provide a foundation of spiritual life to his family and record God’s righteousness to those who were of his bloodline. This declaration would speak into his family going forward and into the halls of eternity.

There are so many voices in the world today. Distractions too numerous to mention are vying for our attention.

Personally, I know of no one who has the simple life. Therefore, decisions made must not be based upon the current conditions of our world but upon the infallible word of God.

Our choices today do affect what happens in the future. For many in society, there is the tendency to live by the “now,” not considering the cost of the lifestyle. All we have to do is turn on the television and see the consequences of choices that were made. These decisions impact the person, family, friends and even our nation.

We are imperfect people, which is why we need Christ. The apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation.” The statement recorded above, which Joshua spoke to the nation, is also for us, “choose for your-selves whom you will serve.”

Ultimately, we will all take responsibility for our ways, and its effect on the ones we love.

The good news is that we are not alone in the battle. To live for God is not an impossible task, but one that brings peace, security and a legacy of blessing.

It provides a firm foundational platform that releases great blessing. We can have the assurance of God’s word no matter what the situation looks like.

Sometimes we live in the regret of the past, thinking our decisions and the consequences of those decisions cannot be reversed. This is not true. God can and will intervene for a people who will call on his name. He is waiting and longing to hear from us, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This is a “memorial statement” that will serve as a reminder to those who know us.

We are the examples that our children, grandchildren and families see every day. A while ago, my 6-year-old granddaughter asked me this question, “Grammy, why do you love God so much?” I was blessed by what she saw in my life. It was a joy to share my heart with her. What memorial are we setting up before them? The word memorial means, “A thing that is designed to keep remembrances alive; to commemorate; a statement of facts.” We too are called to be a people who will remember what God has done for us. His mercy and abundant grace released as Jesus Christ willingly laid his life down for us thereby fulfilling God’s plan. He is the only savior of the world; his legacy and kingdom have no end.

This country is a great country founded upon biblical principles. We are blessed to have freedom. God also gives us freedom of choice. We can choose to live our lives for the Lord or for ourselves. Decisions that set a memorial and a legacy in motion, coupled with the strength of God will always produce a blessed result.

Today, choose life. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”

Patty Scahill of Austintown, who is a conference speaker, author and hospice chaplain, attends Christian Life Church in Canfield.