Unity in Community

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. Joshua 24:15

We can’t choose our family. We are simply a child of our parents, a parent of our children, a brother, a sister. We are given the opportunity to relate to others whether good or bad, right or wrong. Although we do not get to choose our family we do have the ability to choose how these relationships define us.

Did those who came before you choose to serve something good and honest or something harmful? Was your childhood filled with love and grace or hate and anger? What hallmark moments have shaped your life? Maybe those who came before you never experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise in their own life to pass on but hopefully they did.

Regardless of what his forefathers had done, Joshua chooses this pivotal moment in his life to stand up and lead those that would follow behind him. He calls everyone within earshot to bear witness to this formal covenant with the one, true God, that he and his family will serve. He clearly defines who God is, who he is, and how this relationship will move forward in this new land of Promise. He also encourages others to do the same as they receive the reward God has promised.

We face hallmark moments in our life everyday. These moments can and will define you as well as the way others see you. How you work a job, how you speak to your parents, and how you treat your friends and neighbors are all defining moments. How you choose to view these moments and respond to them is what defines you. You can choose a more temporal response by choosing to serve other “gods” or you can choose an eternal response by choosing to serve the One, true God who liberates, who rewards, and who calls.

We live in a land where choices are endless. How will you choose to live today? May you have the boldness to join Joshua in claiming, “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Jonathan Sullivan is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, 1201 Western Circle Dr., in Dimmitt, Texas. Small groups meet on Sunday morning at 9:30 and Worship is at 8:30 and 10:30. Check us out at fbcdimmitt.com for more events and times. You belong at FBC