PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Joshua 24:15 says, “But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”
From this verse, we’re going to focus on the word “Choose.”
First, let’s talk about the corresponding graphic.
The image I originally looked for would have been reminiscent of the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken.”
I wanted a picture of someone standing at the fork in a road because we ultimately choose to follow God or choose to follow the world.
But when I saw those feet dangling over the edge of a busy city, that seemed more appropriate.
Our choice still boils down to two options but this image illustrates how much distracts us from making the right choice.
Everywhere we look, we see temptation, greed, pride.
The world tells us to do whatever we want.
The world is your oyster; go find a pearl.
But this isn’t the choice that will have eternal significance.
Well, back up.
Technically speaking, either choice will have eternal significance, but the one with the benefits comes from following God.
Unfortunately, many choose the other option.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”
The glitter and appeal of temptation is never worth the cost.
The narrow road that follows Jesus will be the best choice we ever make—both in this life and beyond.
It’s a personal choice we all have to make.
Borrowing Joshua’s words, “As for me, I will serve the Lord.”
Who are you choosing to serve?
Today, as you pray, thank God for loving us enough to give us the freedom of choice.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make God-honoring choices to follow Him.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help others who have to make their own decision; ask Him to help them choose wisely, keeping eternity in mind.
