Daily Archives: July 24, 2020

Weekly Devotional 7-27-20 Choose You This Day

Weekly Devotional 7-20-20 Choose You This Day

From the Book of Joshua we read that after the death of Moses Joshua was called by the Lord (Joshua 1:1-9) to lead Israel into the Promised Land. In the faithfulness and protection of the Lord, Joshua led the Israelites for approximately 26 years fulfilling that charge (that call). As he approached the end of his life Joshua gave the following challenge,

 
“14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15And 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” (Joshua 24:14-15).


As He issued this charge, Joshua reminded the Israelites of all that God had had done on their behalf. He had called Abraham, their forefather, out of idolatry and had greatly blessed him by growing out of him the nation they had become. He had brought them out of the bondage of Egypt, protected them from their pursuing armies and gave them victory over the Amorites and the Moabites on the way to Canaan. In Canaan He gave them victory over seven nations that occupied the Land, seven nations that were well fortified and protected by great armies. It was then that he laid the afore-mentioned charge before them.


Perhaps we should take stock and ask ourselves, who is it that we serve? More pointedly, who is it that you serve, who is it that I serve? Is it the Jesus of the Bible or is it a Jesus of some other consideration? Dr. Luke (the writer of the gospel that bears his name and the Book of Acts) correctly understood that the Jesus of the Bible was God manifested in the flesh and he wrote the following about that entrance.

“1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  3And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.  4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David  5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (Luke 2:1-20).

 
Jesus, the man, was born in time, but as the apostle John wrote, Jesus, as God the Son, has existed forever.  “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2The same was in the beginning with God.  3All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made…14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3…14).

 
Jesus was (is) God and we are called to whole heartedly serve Him. We are to do all to the glory of God (1st Corinthians 10:31). Jesus said to the Samaritan women (and indirectly to us), “23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).


Because of all that is happening in the world of our day perhaps it would be good that we pause and consider the God we serve. The God of the Bible or an imagined God.

Steve

stevelampman@comcast.net          stevelampman.com

Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man

Ascribed to by

Oscar Leske – F/B-Signs of Our Times

www.Understandingthesignsofourtimes

And 

Lian Muan Kim –

Koinonia Baptist Seminary, Yangon

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