"As For Me and My House, Which God Will We Serve?

Almost all of us have viewed on wall plaques, on signs, and heard preachers preach on the Bible verse, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)  Most don't realize that this verse has MUCH more to it than just that phrase.

In fact, this verse really begins with, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell."

My question is this:  "Does it seem evil to you to serve the Lord?"  Everytime we make a choice that goes against God's Word or one of His commandments, we are actually saying to God, "It really seems evil to me, Lord, what You are commanding me to do!"  By saying that, we have just put ourselves above God Almighty!  Also, at that point, we have just fallen into "Moral Relativism".
 
Moral Relativism is the belief system in the world today that says there are no absolutes of right or wrong - it is all relative to the situation.  As Judges 21:25 says:  "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

The problem is that "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."  (Hebrews 9:27)  Where there is a judgment, there is a "court of law".  The Law we all will be judged by are the Ten Commandments of God.  Many Christians are being taught by false teachers that God's Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, has been done away with.  However, most of these same Christians believe in a judgment.  It is illogical thinking that you can have one without the other!

Every decision we make this day, we will be faced with 2 choices:  1) Will we serve and glorify the One True God Almighty - Jesus Christ, or 2) Will we choose to serve the gods "in whose land we dwell?" Well, what ways do we serve "the gods in this land we dwell in?"

I Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  The foods we eat (and the amount of food we eat), does that reflect us as servants of God or servants of this world system?  What about the way we dress - does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" by not compromising with the styles that this world is offering to you?  Does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" by choosing to not go to movies that this world is pressuring you to go see?  What about video games, the internet, etc. etc.?  "Does it seem evil to you to serve the Lord" when God says it is wrong?

Lastly, what about the last commandment given to us by our God, Jesus Christ, to GO and make disciples of all nations...?  Does it "seem evil to you to serve the Lord" because He has commanded that you leave your comfort zone to pass out gospel tracts or to speak with someone about the Lord Jesus Christ? 

"If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
(Joshua 24:15)

The Offense of the Gospel

Last night at church, we were sharing about talking to people about Christ.  Someone mentioned they thought the reason we as Christians don't share very often is because of our fear of "offending" the other person.  This is not the first time I've heard this brought up in Christian gatherings - so it made me wonder just what God had to say about this in His Word, the Bible.

I Peter 2:8 says referring to Jesus, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense."

I Corinthians 1:23 says, "but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews an offense and to the Gentiles foolishness."

Galatians 5:11 says, "And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution?  Then the offense of the cross has ceased."

Romans 9:33 says, "Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
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The following two scriptures were really interesting to me, as Jesus is confirming that He truly is the
"rock of offense":

Matthew 13:57:  "So they were offended at Him."

John 6:61:  "When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples grumbled about this, He said to them, 'Does this offend you?'

We can be offensive to others because of our lack of kindness, thoughtfulness, and even through our personal hygiene, but this is not what is being discussed here.  It is very clear from the above scriptures that instead of being afraid of sharing the Gospel with someone because we will offend them - we need to share the Gospel KNOWING it will offend!  Notice, though, what is doing the offending.  It's the Gospel that is offending - not you!

Oh, but wait a minute.  Maybe that is where the real problem lies?  Maybe as Christians we do know that it is the Gospel that offends and that is the real reason we don't want to share it with others.  What that amounts to in reality is:  We are ashamed of the Gospel because it (the Gospel) offends people.  So instead of saying, "I'm afraid I will offend others if I share the Gospel with them", we are really saying, "I'm afraid the Gospel will offend others if I share it with them."

Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Luke 6:22,23:  "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!  For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets."

Jesus was called "the rock of offense".  As Christians, are we not called to follow in His steps?

The Apostasy: The Great Bible Cover-Up Revealed

The "Great Bible Cover-Up" originally began about 20 years ago or so when the first Bible carrier was produced. You know, the little cloth bag with cloth handles that people put their Bibles in to make it supposedly easier to carry back and forth to church. They are also convenient for keeping notebooks in as well so it's there whenever you want to take sermon notes, etc. But the biggest secret about these carriers is this: no one knows you have a Bible!!

Shortly after this, the desktop computers came into our homes.  It wasn't long before you could purchase software of the Bible to put on your computer.  This was really convenient because it allowed you to be able to read the Bible at work without having to carry the Bible with you to work. But the biggest secret about having Bible software is this:  no one knows you have a Bible!!

After the desktop computer, came the Palm Pilot, and now more recently we have the iPods, the iPhones, and the iPads.  All of these items really make it convenient for carrying the Bible with you wherever you go.  But the biggest secret about these is this:  no one knows you have a Bible!!

The other day I went to a Christian bookstore to buy a Bible to put on my car's dashboard.  Boy, was I ever in for a surprise!!  I found that most of the Bibles are now "embossed" but not "imprinted" with ink.  This means the words "Holy Bible" on the front or spine of the Bible barely stand out.  Well, I guess just in case someone, like me, should want an "old-fashioned" Bible - the "Great Bible Cover-Up" is going to make it look like an ordinary book by removing the actual title - The Holy Bible!

Is this what we as Christians should be supporting or "buying into"??  Where are the Christians today who are not ashamed to be called Christians and to show they are Christians by carrying their Bibles out in the open where everyone around them can see them??

Also, how do you know the preachers on T.V. who wave their arm around with an iPad attached really have God's Word open in it?  Our children are watching them preach from an iPad - not from the open book called, The Holy Bible! Shame on us for letting this world conform us into its mold!  (Rom. 12:2)

Jesus gave this warning in Mark 8:38:  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Jesus also said in Matthew 5:14-16:  "You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Search your hearts carefully and see if the REAL reason you are taking part in this "Great Bible Cover-Up" is because you are ashamed to be seen carrying God's holy Word?  Are you letting this world conform you into its image - instead of obeying God's Word to come out from among them and be separate and holy?

The Book of Life: Is Your Name Blotted Out of It?

Have you ever heard a message preached in your church about having your name "blotted out of the Book of Life"? Well, I am 58 years old and I never have. I guess if we are taught to believe in "lawless grace" - it is always "onced saved, always saved". Right? There's an old hymn that says, "My sins are blotted out, I know...." But it's very interesting that no one preaches that our names can also be blotted out as well!

In Exodus 32:32 & 33 Moses said to God, "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book."

I know that is Old Testament teaching, so for those of you who only believe in the New Testament, let's read Revelation 3:5 where it says, "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;..." We need to remember that in both of these instances, God was talking to His people. These people had made a choice at one point in their lives to obey and follow Him as their God and Lord. At that point, their names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

If you use your minds to think this through, someone can't have their names "blotted out" of a book, if they are not first "recorded in" a book! In other words, you have to become a Christian to have your name written in the Book of Life. However, according to these verses, once your name is in this Book, it is possible to have your name blotted out of this Book. And, don't we say we believe that "With God all things are possible"?

When Jesus Christ comes again, He is coming again to judge the unrighteous and to set up His kingdom here on earth. According to Revelation 20:11, there will be a great white throne and
Jesus Christ will be sitting on it. In verse 12, it says "And I (John) saw the dead small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books." Verse 15 says, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

Those of us who are Christians can remember the day that we turned the control of our lives over to Jesus Christ, promising to live for Him because He had suffered and died for us. At that point in time, we passed from death to life - and our names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If you are reading this and are not a Christian, find someone you know who is and ask them how you can know that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

In conclusion, let us remember as Hebrews 10:26-31 says, it is possible to "trample the Son of God underfoot, counting the blood of the covenant by which He was sanctified a common thing, and insulting the Spirit of grace." Heb. 10:30 and 31 says, "The Lord will judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Let us make sure every day that we have turned the control of our lives over to God (Jesus Christ) and are living in obedience to Him and His Word revealed to us in the Bible.

Let Your Light Shine!

A few weeks ago we were visiting some friends for an evening of playing cards. When we got ready to leave, it was close to 11:00 p.m. and very dark outside. As we backed out of their driveway, we noticed the light shining out of their front windows into the darkness. I mentioned to my husband that it was interesting because there was no way that the darkness could enter into those windows of light as long as the lights were on. Only the light could enter the darkness.

As a Christian, this is an interesting thought since Jesus said in Matt. 5:14, "You are the light of the world." Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."

Some of us, though, have forgotten what it was like to "live in darkness". Isaiah 59:9-11 is one of my favorite passages from the Bible as it reminds me what our unsaved friends and relatives are experiencing in the darkness of their lives. It says, "We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places. We all growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves; we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us." To me, that is the saddest thing I have ever read!!

However, God has called us to be the light to these people lost in darkness. Isaiah 60:1&2 speaks to us about the light God has given us: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; BUT the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

Notice in the Isa. 59 passage that these people are "looking for light". When we have a storm at night and our power goes off, the first thing we do is look for "a light". Right? So, this week as we go out into the dark world around us, keep in mind that we have God's light shining out from us - penetrating the darkness with every step we take. Let's use God's glory on our lives to bring salvation to those who are drawn to His light within us.