Choose Today!
On this first day of 2021, I made a critical decision.
As I woke up for the third or fourth time this morning and was headed to the restroom, I heard the words: Choose Ye This Day. I knew it was scripture. I just didn't know which scripture. I googled it. It’s Joshua 24:14-15.
Then Joshua told the people:
Worship the Lord, obey him, and always be faithful. Get rid of the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. 15 But if you don’t want to worship the Lord, then choose right now! Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you’re living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you’ll worship their gods. I won’t. My family and I are going to worship and obey the Lord! ~ Joshua 24:14-15 CEV
Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth… (CSB translation)
What does it mean to “Fear the Lord.” My Tony Evans Study Bible Notes says, it means to take Him seriously, rather than have a mere casual relationship with Him and trying to keep Him on the periphery of life. You know I had to look up the word periphery. I knew it had something to do with peripheral. And I am such a word nerd.
Periphery means outside the boundary of something. It means you’re close to it, but not part of it! When something is on the periphery of your vision, you can only see it when you are looking sideways. As I was reading this definition, I wrote in my journal, Is that the only time we want a true relationship with God, when things are looking sideways in our lives? We got to choose ye this day!
That scripture also said get rid of idols. What is an idol? An idol is an UNAUTHORIZED person, place, or thing that a person looks to as a source for purpose, promise, or provision. Idols can be money, power, popularity, influence, sex, drugs, or even a person! The list can be quite long actually. I just thought about this. Coffee can be an idol. You can DEPEND on it to get you through the day, when God is really who you are to depend on. Here’s a way to test to see if it’s an idol: DO YOU DEPEND ON IT? Do you depend on it for pleasure? Do you depend on it for money? Do you depend on it for encouragement? Do you depend on it for pain relief? Do you depend on the person more than God? Whatever idol it is, get rid of it today and choose God.
We have only ONE ultimate source to meet ALL our needs for 2021 and beyond…and that’s God!
Today as we have already begun this new calendar year, repent for your sins and make a crucial decision to serve the the Lord, to obey the Lord, to follow God’s agenda, and let Him lead every single area of your life.
SALVATION PRAYER
If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re not a believer, but you have a desire to be, all you have to do is openly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community, stay connected to other believers, and start having daily conversations through prayer with God every single day. Welcome to your new life with Jesus Christ!!!
ASSIGNMENTS
What did Holy Spirit say to you in your conversation with Him this morning?
Let the world know who you choose to serve and obey wholeheartedly today.
Record yourself reading the word of God on video or audio and watch how God will use your own voice to give you revelation and build your faith (keeping this assignment on here for a while).
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