August 6-Be Sure

Good Tuesday morning Warren. If you haven’t heard yet, we have a new baby coming in our family. Tal and Tracy are having a little boy and we are starting to get things in order for the arrival of our newest Hudson. Yesterday, we were looking at shower arrangements (Sept 1st at my house) and all the fal-da-ra that goes with an event like this. 


It has make me think once again about families and how Christ is the foundation for strong family units. As the head of his household, my son has decided that his family will serve the Lord. So this baby will be brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Joshua took this same stand many years ago when he was speaking with the Children of Israel. 


“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:15-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Then Joshua tells them that if you’re going to pick God, remember He is holy and He is jealous. He won’t put up with your rebellion and you misbehaving. If you pick Him, be sure. Be very sure.  


We use that statement of “me and my house” very loosely I think. Many of us have or many have have that verse in some frame somewhere in our house. But what we often forget I think are those verses that follow. If you pick the Lord your God, remember He is holy and he is a jealous God. 


It’s not an easy pick. It’s a life changing, walk altering decision when we chose to follow Christ. He doesn’t go the way of the crowd. We may feel like we are walking alone and people (even those closest to us) may not understand the path we are taking. But the truth is, we didn’t pick our road. We are just followers and this is the way Jesus is leading. 


God help us to remember you are the same today, yesterday and forever. You were a holy and jealous God during the days of Joshua and you are a holy and jealous God today. We praise you and lift you high and we ask you Father for the wisdom and the power to stand up to the deceiver when we are weak. We ask for forgiveness and mercy for our shortcomings and we pray that no stronghold can stand when faced by your great love. You are the Alpha and the Omega and our hearts’ desire is to follow you. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear friend,

Pam

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