Choosing Whom to Serve: A Call to Commitment

Devotional

Day 1: Choosing Whom to Serve

Life is a series of decisions, and the most significant one is whom we choose to serve. Just as Joshua challenged the Israelites to choose whom they would serve, we are faced with the same decision today. The story of the Alamo serves as a metaphor for this choice, reminding us that we must draw a line in the sand and commit to serving the Lord. This decision is not only personal but also generational, impacting our families and the future of our faith community. By choosing to serve God, we set a foundation for our lives and the lives of those who come after us. [36:22]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to demonstrate your commitment to serving God in your daily life?

Day 2: Reverent Awe and Respect for God

Fearing the Lord is not about living in terror but about having a reverent awe and respect for Him. This fear is foundational to wisdom and understanding, shaping how we live, speak, and interact with the world. Teaching our children to fear the Lord is crucial for their spiritual growth and understanding. In a world filled with distractions, maintaining a reverent fear of God helps us stay grounded in His truth and wisdom. [43:57]

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverent awe for God in your daily routine?

Day 3: Rejecting False Gods

In a world filled with distractions and competing ideologies, we must reject false gods and commit to serving the one true God. This requires discernment and a firm commitment to God's truth, even if it means standing alone. By rejecting false gods, we align ourselves with God's will and purpose for our lives, ensuring that we are not swayed by the fleeting values of the world. [50:11]

1 John 5:21 (ESV): "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

Reflection: Identify one "false god" or distraction in your life that competes for your attention. What steps can you take to remove or minimize its influence?

Day 4: Passing the Baton of Faith

We are called to pass the baton of faith to future generations, ensuring that the gospel continues to spread. This involves leading our families in reverence for God, rejecting false gods, and relying on Him alone. By committing to generational discipleship, we ensure that the truth of God's Word is preserved and shared with those who come after us. [01:06:51]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally share your faith with the next generation this week?

Day 5: Standing Firm in Faith

In a culture that often opposes Christian values, we must stand firm in our faith, even if it means being in the minority. Our commitment to God should be unwavering, and we must prepare our children to stand for truth in a world that may not understand. By standing firm, we become beacons of light and hope, demonstrating the power and love of God to those around us. [01:01:05]

Ephesians 6:13 (ESV): "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection: Think of a situation where your faith might be challenged. How can you prepare yourself to stand firm in that moment?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound significance of decision-making in our spiritual lives, drawing inspiration from the historical event at the Alamo and the biblical account of Joshua. Life is a series of decisions, and the most crucial one is whom we choose to serve. Joshua's challenge to the Israelites to choose whom they will serve resonates with us today. We are called to draw a line in the sand and commit to serving the one true God, rejecting the false gods that vie for our attention.

The story of the Alamo serves as a powerful metaphor for the choices we face. Just as the defenders of the Alamo had to decide whether to stand and fight or surrender, we too must decide whom we will serve. Joshua's declaration, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," is a call to lead our families in reverence and commitment to God. This decision is not just a personal one but a generational one, impacting the future of our families and the church.

We also discussed the importance of fearing the Lord, not in a sense of terror, but with reverent awe and respect. This fear of God is foundational to wisdom and understanding. It shapes how we live, speak, and interact with the world. We must teach our children to revere God, reject false gods, and rely on Him alone. In a world filled with distractions and competing ideologies, we must stand firm in our faith, even if it means standing alone.

The message concluded with a call to action: to commit to generational discipleship, ensuring that the gospel is passed down to future generations. We are part of a long line of believers who have faithfully carried the baton of faith. Let us not break the chain but continue to serve the Lord with all our hearts, leading our families and communities in the truth of God's Word.

Key Takeaways

1. Making:** Life is filled with decisions, but the most significant one is whom we choose to serve. Like the defenders of the Alamo, we must draw a line in the sand and commit to serving the Lord, understanding that this choice impacts both our present and future generations. [36:22]
2. Reverent Fear of the Lord: Fearing God is not about terror but about reverent awe and respect. This fear is foundational to wisdom and shapes how we live and interact with the world. Teaching our children to fear the Lord is crucial for their spiritual growth and understanding.

3. Rejecting False Gods: In a world filled with distractions and competing ideologies, we must reject false gods and commit to serving the one true God. This requires discernment and a firm commitment to God's truth, even if it means standing alone.

4. Generational Discipleship: We are called to pass the baton of faith to future generations, ensuring that the gospel continues to spread. This involves leading our families in reverence for God, rejecting false gods, and relying on Him alone.

5. Standing Firm in Faith: In a culture that often opposes Christian values, we must stand firm in our faith, even if it means being in the minority. Our commitment to God should be unwavering, and we must prepare our children to stand for truth in a world that may not understand.

** [36:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:22] - The Power of Decision-Making
[39:04] - Generational Discipleship
[40:26] - Joshua's Line in the Sand
[42:09] - Reverent Fear of the Lord
[42:54] - Misunderstanding God's Fear
[43:57] - True Meaning of Fearing God
[45:21] - Respect and Reverence for God
[46:09] - Teaching Children to Fear God
[47:18] - Love and Fear of God
[48:17] - Rejecting False Gods
[50:11] - Modern False Gods
[59:56] - Standing Firm in Faith
[61:05] - Examples of Standing Alone
[66:51] - Generational Impact and Commitment

Sermon Clips

"My soul's in your hands But I have an even greater connection to Chris Christopherson Is that we are fellow Texans And if you're from Texas, you'll understand But that was fantastic, and praise God for the message in that psalm If you have your copy of God's Word, I'd invite you to open up to Joshua chapter 24 If you're following along in a blank pew box, it's on page 198 And as I tell you week after week, if you do not own a Bible That blank pew Bible is now yours, it is a free gift from Oak Grove We simply ask that you read it and that you obey it And in speaking of Texas, one of the bucket list items that I have Is to visit a place called the Alamo And it's not just a place where you rent cars It's an actual historical" [00:33:22] (53 seconds)

"military site, but one of the things that I really want to see at the Alamo is a plaque that is at the front door of the Alamo. There it is up on the picture. According to Texas legend, in the last days of the battle for the Alamo, which went from February into March 1836, they were surrounded, the Texans, were surrounded by an overwhelming force of Mexican troops, and they were pretty sure they were going to be defeated, and about 500 men eventually died. The Alamo commander, William Travis, along with Jim Bowie, yes, the guy who they named the knife after, they were ordered by the Mexican commander, Santa Ana, to either surrender or die. The orders were pretty clear. Now, according to the legend, Travis gathered the troops together." [00:34:17] (50 seconds)

"Now, today, we remember men like Crockett, Davy Crockett, and Travis, and Bowie, just because they drew a line, in the dirt. They made a life and death decision. They were resolved to this decision, right up until their very death. Now, listen, life is made up of decisions, period. As soon as we're old enough to think for ourselves, we start making decisions each and every day. The typical adult makes 35 ,000 conscious decisions a day, over 1 .3 million a year. Many of them, they come to regret. Somebody say amen to that." [00:35:15] (41 seconds)

"Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your father served beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the Lord. If it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your father served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Heavenly Father, we praise you and thank you for your word." [00:41:09] (29 seconds)

"God, we thank you for all you do for us. And we pray all of this in the matchless name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Amen. You may be seated. So in the scripture today, Joshua has drawn a line in the dirt. He is saying, even if nobody else comes to stand on this side of the line, my family and I will. Now, he chose to lead his family to do three things that God is expecting all of us to do today. Number one, commit to lead your family to revere the one God." [00:42:09] (31 seconds)

"Now, Joshua begins with a general piece of advice for everybody. Now, therefore, fear the Lord. and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Now, we don't hear too much about fear of the Lord today. In the world we live today, that would seem like a strange statement. Some people would just say that it was wrong. Too often people get the idea today that God is not a God to be feared, that God is a God to be used." [00:42:41] (27 seconds)

"Martin Luther said that there's two kinds of fear, a fleshly fear and a family fear. A fleshly fear is the fear that a prisoner has when his... when his executioner is walking down the hall. Or like a child's fear of the dark. A family fear is that of a child that has such respect and love and reverence for his mother and father that he fears displeasing them or offending them in every way." [00:44:22] (28 seconds)

"Fearing God is the foundation of truly knowing God. Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. In Deuteronomy chapter 13 verse 14 says, you shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice. And you shall serve him and hold fast to him." [00:48:06] (24 seconds)

"Your children need to know by the way you pray, by the way that you live your life, by the way you are committed to the house of God, that you are a reverent and respectful follower of the living God who fears him in the right way. And that is one of the best ways that you can protect your children and promote the best welfare because of the wisest man who ever lived said this, Proverbs 14 26, in the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have refuge." [00:48:29] (28 seconds)

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