The Best Motivation to Serve Him

Text: Joshua 24:1-15 Theme: God’s provisions and care for the Israelites should have motivated them to serve him completely. Key verses: “I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughouut Canaan and gave him many descendants…Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out…You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Eygptians…I brought you to the land of the Amorites…I gave them into your hands.” (v. 3-8) “Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho…I gave them into your hands. I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you…You did not do it with your own sword and bow. So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.” (v. 11-13) “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped…and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (v. 14-15) What God said to me: Son, servant, heir, joint-heir, my precious one in whom is my delight, I go before my children. I clear the way for them and literally hand the best over to them on a silver platter. Sure, you have to work and pray and keep forging ahead. You have to fight the enemy in fierce battle at times. But look back right now. Think back over your life. Would you have imagined all that you have gotten to experience and have because you know and serve me? Would the massive doors of ministry been ones you could have manipulated? Would you have possibly chosen a more suitable help-mate? Would you have imagined such great and loving children? Dwayne, think about it. Much of what you are now enjoying, you had very little to do with gaining. You simply walked down the road I led you. And look where it has led you! That’s my loving, caring, fatherly way. If you still find it undesirible to serve me, then go about your idiotic way and serve someone else. I despise mere lip-service. Be either hot or cold in your service to me. So far in your life, Dwayne, you have echoed Joshua’s words. I am counting on your sticking with your decision. What I said to God: Lord in heaven and on earth, I do choose to serve You with my whole heart and life. As for me and my home, we will always serve You, Lord. Your love continues to motivate me! May my wife, my boys and I ever be captivated by Your love and mercy and majesty.