by Elder Aries de Vera
Reading for the day: Joshua 24:14-15
Life is full of choices. It is a series of decisions that shape our experiences and define our lives. That’s why we are always in a dilemma to pick the right choice. There’s a never ending cycle of choosing the best one for our needs and wants. From the complex to the simplest things in our “dailies”, we are presented with different choices.
In the life of Joshua, we can see him as the courageous leader who was called by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. At the end of his life, advanced in years, he wanted to leave the people with some final words (Joshua 23:1-3). In the succeeding verse, he reminded them of all of God’s goodness, faithfulness and promises to them. I like what he said in verse 14, “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”
But then, in all of Joshua’s reminders of God’s faithfulness and favours, the people had to make a decision. They have to make a choice. Would they serve other gods, like their ancestors, or would they serve the Lord God? Joshua made it clear whom he would be serving: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). But how about his people? What is their response? What is their decision?
Fast forward to our time. This is the same question that we need to answer ourselves. Are you on the side of God, or on the other side? Gen Z’s has this expression – “Who’s your bias?”. It’s either you’re with Team God or the other team. There are two ways we can walk in – the ways of God or the ways of the enemy.
There are two ways we can walk in – the ways of God or the ways of the enemy.
Reconstructing Joshua’s argument in our time, the best decision that we can make is to choose to serve God. To someone who has experienced the goodness of God – the most logical answer is to serve Him! Why? Because God gives His grace and mercy to those who serve Him (Malachi 3:17-18). It is God’s prerogative to give mercy.
“It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” – Romans 9:16
What is the meaning of prerogative? According to the Merriam and Webster Dictionary, prerogative is an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege given to a particular individual or class. The Cambridge Dictionary has a better definition, it says that prerogative is something that certain people are able or allowed to do or have, but is not possible or allowed for everyone. But the Bible gives the best and perfect definition of this word. According to Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:9-10.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
As God’s people, He has given us this exclusive right and privilege to serve Him. Through His love and mercy, we had been included in His plan. We were added to His True Church. We are God’s chosen people (John 15:16). We have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). It is only through the grace of God that we were able to receive His salvation. We are a product of His love and mercy. Without it, our condition as hopeless and people doomed for destruction remains. But God loves us and He doesn’t want us to perish (John 3:16). It is God’s plan for us to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4). But it doesn’t end there. Those who had been saved must serve the Lord. We are not only His servants – but we are His co-workers or co-labourers (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Those who had been saved must serve the Lord. We are not only His servants – but we are His co-workers or co-labourers.
And we praise the Lord because in the PMCC 4th Watch, we are being encouraged and being led to a life of service. Through the apostolic legacy of the Goodman of the House, Apostle Arsenio Tan Ferriol, and the leadership of his successor, Apostle Jonathan Santos Ferriol — our life has become a life of holiness and service. It is in serving God that we can find His mercies. As we walk in the ways of God. As we continue to serve Him. He will show and manifest His mercy unto us.
Going back to the question that Joshua laid before his people. What was their response? What was their decision? The Bible says in Joshua 24:16-18,
“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.”
Let us be like Joshua who did not only decide for himself but also led his family to choose to serve God. Let us be like the people in Joshua’s time who responded and decided based on their calling. We are chosen to serve God! Let us continue to serve the Lord and be thankful to Him. And as we do so His mercies will be upon us.
Reflection: What is the best decision you made in your life? As a believer, how do you pick the right choices?
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