Choose This Day

“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 34:5

“Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and 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.” Joshua 24:14-15

“When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua… died at the age of 110 years…. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done.

“And [they] did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. They abandoned the Lord… who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods.” Judges 2:6-8,10-12a

“David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.” Acts 13:36

Moses faithfully served the Lord all his days. His successor Joshua followed suit, leading Israel to conquer and take possession of Canaan. Later, David served the Lord’s purpose with his years. God’s people over time and times made choices that revealed their true masters and determined their legacies. Each made daily choices whom to serve, and by willful idolatry their memories were for naught, or by grace their lives were counted in service of their King. Joshua’s challenge puts the onus on every individual child of God for the future course of their lives. (Deuteronomy 34:7-12)

God gives us freedom to choose how to spend our time and resources. Opportunities abound for influential decisions, often with no one option being clearly right. But the choice of who is Master and Lord of our lives is primary, and bears vitally on all other choices. Why we do what we do, what we prioritize, whom we value and spend time with, how we speak and interact, where we go and allocate expenses, all indicate whom we serve: self, or the Sovereign.

Many advise to set goals with specific steps. Make a long-term plan, and fix short-term marks that help accomplish it. It is prudent and helpful to set about forward motion with thought and care. But the most important determination for any ambition is that of the heart’s devotion. If the Lord’s honor is not foremost, and His will is not being served with our plans, our efforts are in vain.

What do my motives reveal about my heart’s throne? Do my actions betray that I serve my wants and impulses, or the Lord’s word and will? If the Spirit convicts of wayward desires and unhealthy ambition, what will I do about them? What practical steps can I take to transfer allegiance and devotion from small foreign gods to my Lord of lords? Whom will I serve this day?

Lord, may I serve You first and only, with glad abandon, all my days.