choose you this day

 There are choices we make every day. It is said that we make over 260 choices every day just about food. We make thousands of choices every day.  There is one choice we must deeply consider.  The choice to serve the Lord. This choice will affect just about every other choice we make. 

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .

Joshua 24:15 KJV

As the world has been enveloped in a pandemic, many things have been shut down and limited. We have had to choose to go or not go to the store, to school, and to church. As things opened back up, some choose to go and some choose to remain home. This has even pertained to churches.  Many have returned to church and many have chosen to stay home.  There has been a great change in many churches as some who used to be there, no longer attend.  I understand there is a health concern that keeps some away. There are online services now that provide access. So there is still a way for them to 'attend' service. The one major thing missing  is their presence in the building. The body of that assembly is missing a piece.  That piece is noticeably missing.  

I read a story once about a man who was not coming to church so his pastor came visit. As he explained that he would be fine without going, the pastor picked up his fire poker, stuck it in the fire and pushed a coal away from the fire.  As the coal slowly cooled and turned from hot to cold, the pastor told the man he would be like that coal.  Without contacting the fire, he would go out.  Church bodies come together for the encouragement and uplifting of one another.  I don't want to be that coal.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17 KJV

We come together to corporately worship and learn more about God as well as gain strength. There is a great importance placed on assembling together throughout the Bible. God had days for Israel to assemble and praise or listen to the Word. Paul instructed the church about the importance of assembling together. 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV

God also warned us to not be lukewarm or basically not to be apathetic to him. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.   So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15‭-‬16 KJV

One thing I have realized this past year is that we all have had to choose.  We have had to choose what is most important for us.  What do we really need? What do we really love and want? What do we participate in and what do we leave off?  I have Joshua 24:15 on my living room wall. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  We, as a family, have made some choices this past year as to what that means for us.  For us, diving more into the Word of God, focusing more on our spiritual diet, and yes, personally attending church service.  We choose to attend because the word of God tells us to do so. Can I tell others what to choose? No. But we choose to serve the Lord as His Word prescribed as best we can. I believe we need to choose to be in the fellowship of other Christians, participate in corporate worship, be there to pray with one another, encourage one another, and be strengthened. I do not want the fire of God to wain in my life or the life of my family.  We have a great privilege of choice to attend church here in this country and I do not want to neglect my great choice to go. I cannot live without God as my Savior. I cannot fathom placing him aside. I cannot fathom making a choice to not be with the family of God.  I realize there are people in other areas of the world risking imprisonment and death for choosing to attend a Bible study or a service. I have the option to go or not go. Every choice we make has a consequence,  whether good or bad. Just getting out of bed has consequences. Choosing not to be in church has far too grave a consequence in my opinion. I CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD.  

Make the choices that you deem best for you, but I do encourage every one to read the Word, pray and ask God about what you choose.  I ask him daily to guide my choices.  I want to be found in his favor.   

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Psalms 143:10 KJV

As for me and my house we choose to serve the Lord. We choose to be in the sanctuary. We choose to live a life that hopefully reflects our trust in Him. We choose to follow where He leads. We choose to live for Him.  Do we do it perfectly? No. Do we ask him to help us when we fail? Yes.  Does he always answer? Yes. He will guide our choices when we listen to Him.

Choose today, whom you serve.