My oldest son is 10, and I still kiss him on the cheek. Unfortunately, cultural forces have conspired upon my son so that he believes he’s too old for such signs of affection. That’s okay. I’ll keep giving him bear hugs and kissing his cheek, and perhaps when he’s much older and has sons of his own, he’ll surprise me with a kiss in return. The worst thing I could do is shame him for his boundaries or attempt to force him to show affection. If affection is not given freely, it isn’t true.
Sometimes we believe God operates differently, that God wants sheer obedience with little care for the authentic textures of our heart and our soul. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As Joshua led Israel into their homeland, he recounted their history and the miraculous ways God had provided for them and protected them. And now they had, in some measure, arrived (Joshua 24:1-13). They had a land and were beginning to build a life. Yet Joshua knew that a solemn choice remained. Would they serve the God who had brought them there, the God who had made and named them, or would they return to the false gods they had left behind? (Joshua 24:14-15).
Remarkably, Joshua didn’t cajole the people or attempt to force them. There was a choice to be made, and the people had to make it. One of the more famous passages of Scripture from Joshua’s life is the one quoted here: “As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Equally provocative, however, is the first line of that verse: “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve.”
God desires more than mere compliance. He wants us to “serve him wholeheartedly” (Joshua 24:14). And for this, we must choose.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Timothy 6:3-21
More:
Read Deuteronomy 30:19-20 to see the choice Moses wanted the Israelites to make.
Next:
What does a “wholehearted” faith mean to you? Where is God offering you a choice? What will you choose to do?
alli on December 12, 2013 at 7:23 am
It is hard to serve a God you do not love or know, bc sometimes He asks you to do difficult things, in these times without committment wholeheartedly one would liable to turn back things are not always rosy hence churches need tell the FULL gospel least we have non committed Christians when things get tough
winn collier on December 12, 2013 at 4:37 pm
And love is what woos us, alli
tom felten on December 12, 2013 at 9:07 am
Winn, this resonates . . . without daily choosing to take up our cross and follow Jesus our faith will be lifeless. How important it is to start each day dwelling in the love and joy of our great God.
winn collier on December 12, 2013 at 4:38 pm
too rarely, in my experience, do we see this “taking up our cross” as intimately connected to “dwelling in the love and joy” of God. But we need to. That’s the truth and the only way that will swell our hearts.