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[Joshua well knew that any service to God that was not free and voluntary could be only deceitfulness and hypocrisy, and that God loves a cheerful giver. He therefore calls upon the people to make their choice, for God himself would not force them – THEY MUST SERVE HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEART IF THEY SERVED HIM AT ALL. As for himself and family, he shows them that their choice was already fixed, for they had taken The Lord God Almighty for their portion!] “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE…AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” (Josh. 24:15) [The fact was that they were now sincere and cannot be reasonably doubted, for they served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and the elders that outlived him, but afterwards they turned aside, and did serve other gods.!] “Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and PERFORMED THOSE GREAT SIGNS BEFORE OUR EYES. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. WE TOO WILL SERVE THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS OUR GOD.” (Josh. 24:16-18) [The apostle here shows that God had the Gentiles as much in the thought of his mercy and goodness as he had the Jews; God having provided for Jew and Gentile, the same blessings, we should therefore be holy – fully separated from sin, and consecrated to God!] “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. FOR HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love HE PREDESTINED US FOR ADOPTION TO SONSHIP THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, in accordance with his pleasure and will– to the praise of his glorious grace, WHICH HE HAS FREELY GIVEN US in the One he loves. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM BETTER.” (Eph. 1:3-5, 17)

Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that WE MUST CHOOSE FOR OURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM WE WILL SERVE!
-Bill Stockham