...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Introduction
The Chinese usually start their new year by consulting first with the Fung Shui for what are the good lucks of the coming year. Even though most of the time, predictions of Fung Shui experts have been played safely, many people believes them.
Some people begin their new year by making a new year's resolution list. Funny because many people list the same things all over again from the past year. They think of something to change yet find it difficult to do so. How does the Bible teaches us to start our year?
Choosing The Best
Choosing the better is not better, it is choosing the best. Sometimes we are already used of choosing the better. As far as I have studied the Bible, God does not want us to the better, but the best. The Lord did not want us to be better people, but to be the best. And this is exactly why God is directing us to always choose the best.
When we buy something, we will always want to choose the best for our money. If let us say for example we have 5000 pesos and we want to buy a cell phone, we will choose what we know the best cell phone for 5000. We will never choose 3210 for our 5000 pesos right?
This point is not all about being discontented. What we are talking about is about decision making and not on what God gave us.
To make this point clearer, God wants us to choose Him. Just like Joshua chose to follow God. Guess what, this is the best decision that a person could ever have. As what a beautiful song entitled “I wish you Jesus”, “Coz when I wish you Jesus, I wish you everything”. God wants to give us everything even at the very beginning of time.
First, God gave Adam and Eve the things in life, everything are FREE. God gave us the best world to live in. God gave us the best book to read, the Bible. God gave us the best air to breath, it is only us who polluted it. God gave us the best liquid to drink, but it is only us made it toxic.
Choosing What Is Right
God wants us to choose what is right. Are we choosing the right thing? God does not only wants us the best, but He also wants us to choose the right thing. The thing is, choosing the best has its direct negative opposite. Meaning, we can choose the best bad things in life but instead of doing it, we are going to choose the best right things.
In our decision makings, the best decisions comes with the right decisions. But many Christians neglected choosing the best decisions. Even though they were presented the different things that may happen in their lives if they choose this or if choose that, still, they go to the wrong decision making.
Joshua in our passage gave two choices, either they will serve God or other gods. But here Joshua made his decision right, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. He chose what is right and what is best for his family.
Now God is speaking to us to choose Him because it is not only the best, but it is also the right thing to do. Choosing God leads to prosperity, protection, blessings, and abundance. Of course it is not all about comfort, but His deliverance through trials and hardships. Even if we try those Christians who are suffering from trials and to those who do not believe in God. Christians looks like do not any problem, while those who don't believe in God seems to be hopeless.
Choosing To Stand
Now that you have chosen what is the best and what is right, it is time for us to stand. Last Christmas up to the new year's time, we attended all kinds of reunions, gatherings and parties. Every time I attend these parties, especially when these parties are hosted by non-believers, I do not see them as a temptation, but an opportunity to show them that you are Christian and that you stand to what is right.
Sometimes, we really thought that it is hard to say “no” when someone prepare an imported liquor in front of us. We thought that it is disrespect to say no to our old time friends if we say no that sparkling glass of bear. Brothers, this I would tell you, if a young Christian or a prospect sees you and was stumbled because of you, you just have disrespected the King of kings and Lord of lords.
If we have not stood against all these ridicules, if we have not stand against all these temptations, it is time to stand now. John 10:33 “But whosoever deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Every time we say “yes” to a single glass of liquor negligently, it is as good as denying the power of Holy Spirit that is us. I appeal to you therefore, that you do not neglect the workings of the Holy Spirit.
I have attended parties like some of you did. And like some of your, a sparkling glass of beer has been offered to me courteously to me. But it has been a great opportunity to explain that I do not drink liquor nor pop a cigarette. And guess what, I do not believe that they see me a lesser man than they, because I know, a real man would say that I made a better choice. How about us? It is time for us to make a stand.
Conclusion
Want to make a New Year's resolution? Start with these three, and all the rest will follow.
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