Serve the LORD

There are many more who say they are Christians than actually are. There are many who say they believe, say they love God, say they will obey Him, say they want to live as He says to in Scripture; many more who say than do.

This, of course, is not new. Joshua saw this when he was dealing with the Israelites. They said they believed the LORD, but their actions belied their true beliefs. Many who said they would worship Him only, but they ended up serving other gods. Many who said the right things but did the wrong ones.

They offered lip service, not heart service.

They ‘talked-the-talk,’ but didn’t ‘walk the walk.’

They were foolish.

We see this is our day and age, too. Many who claim to follow Jesus, but denigrate others. Many who say they believe but engage in sexual immorality. Many who lift the Name of Jesus one minutes but curse by that same Name the next. Many who say they want to follow God’s ways laid out in the Bible, but take the time to even know what it says.

The Epistle tells us not to “walk as unwise but as wise” and “not to be “foolish.”

We should not repeat the mistakes of the past – or of our past!

It is time to get into His Word – and live it! It is time to put away what we feel and want and do what He says! It is time to put away our idols and choose to follow Him only!

Of course we won’t do that perfectly. Of course we will sometimes make the wrong choices. Of course we will sin.

But we should put away the laissez-faire attitude of following Him; not because it earns us salvation, but because through faith in Him we have salvation through His perfect fulfillment!

We are free to serve Him and not ourselves; not idols. We are free to follow Him even though we will mess up!

God has chosen us in Jesus! Respond in thanks, choosing to follow Him, not just in talk, but in joyful action!

Scriptures

• Joshua 24:1-2, 14-18
• Ephesians 5:6-17