Chose You This Day

CHOSE YOU THIS DAY...

You know the greatest part about being a human being is that God gave us the power of choice. The freedom of making decisions that effect us individually. We (all of us) make choices every single day. We choose what to wear that day. How we want to fix our hair. What to eat. Who to talk to and make friends with and who not. Sometimes we make good choices and sometimes not so good choices, but whatever the outcome, good or bad, it was our choice.

Many of the choices we make, like what kind of toothpaste to use, is not important but there are many choices we face that are important and we must choose wisely, lest the "bad" happen because of a poor choice. There is one choice we make every single day; however, and most of us make the choice without even thinking about it, and yet it is the single most important choice you will ever make, so tonight we are going to highlight this choice and try to help you make the right choice.

Lets turn to Joshua chapters 23 & 24

First I have a question, are any of you familiar with Joshua’s famous last words? I bet you are...they are posted on plaques and pictures everywhere....

Finish this scripture for me...but as for me and my house,                                 . See I knew you knew Joshua’s famous last words. However, there is more to what Joshua said in that scripture than that...and it’s the more that we are going to focus on tonight.

Joshua 23:1-3 & 24:1-15

Here we see Joshua (remember I taught a few weeks ago about Joshua and Caleb, this is that Joshua) He become the leader of the Israelites when Moses died. He led the Israelites under God’s direction into the promised land. They had to fight a lot of battles in order to "get" this land they were promised, not only the battle of Jericho but many more, and only with God’s help were they able to win these battles. Either way we see in the last few chapters of Joshua that, Joshua is old and getting ready to die so he calls all the people of Israel to a meeting and reminded them of all the great things that God had done before their very eyes. All the times that God helped them when they were in trouble, and then he said, but you have forsaken your God. Every since you have come into this land you have corrupted yourselves to serve the gods of the other nations, and; finally he told them, today you have a choice to make.

He said...you need to fear "the Lord", and serve him in sincerity and in truth...quit being wishy washy,

Put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord...

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.

Of course, just as Joshua thought they would. The Israelites said: God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods, for the Lord he is our God. (Joshua 24:16)

Let’s just dissect the word serve...

What does the word serve mean...they said they would serve the Lord...what does serve mean...

(Note to teacher:  Do a little object lesson on service...act as if you are someone’s servant...ask them what they would like for me to bring them and then give them something else.)

How about when you go to a restaurant and order steak...does the server bring you chicken...probably not if he/she wants a tip (or reward) later for good service.

You see in order to serve you must follow the words of or instructions of the one you are serving, and this is what Joshua was saying. You want to say you will serve the Lord but you refuse to follow his instructions. You are not living as if you are a servant of the Lord. You are not keeping his commandments but you are follow other gods and living like those who are not God’s people.

The bible says...you cannot serve two masters, you will love the one and hate the other or cling to the one and despise the other....Matt 6:24

There is a choice we make every single day without even realizing it...and yes it is a daily choice...when you get up in the morning and choose your actions for the day...you are choosing whether to live like the world and enjoy the sinful pleasures of the world...or you are hopefully choosing to be a Christian and live according to God’s word, but you can’t do both. You are either a Christian and following God’s word or you are not. There is no in between!!!

You see, there are consequences with every decision we make...good or bad...yes, it is your choice to forsake God and to run after the things (gods) of this world and to live any ol’ way you want, that your freedom of choice. Yes, it’s your choice to forsake the one who created you and gave you life, the one who loved you enough to shed blood for your sins...the one who makes sure you are well cared for in this life...but there are consequences...

Joshua told the people...God is a jealous God, he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

My friend...hell is the consequence of folks who make the wrong choice on who to serve.

You have the opportunity at this very moment to make up your mind...the scripture says...

Behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corin. 6:2)

You know, you guys are reaching the age that you can’t depend on mom and dad or someone else to make the right choices for you. Some of you perhaps right now, have moms and dads right now who don’t make the right decision regarding this issue so you have to make the choice for you.

As Joshua said ...AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD...what are you going to do?

Memory Verse:  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.

(This is quite a lengthy verse.  If you wish and your children are somewhat young, pick a portion of the verse as a memory verse).