Waist Deep 2018 - February 10


Joshua 24: 15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (NIV)


He doesn’t want meaningless worship or mindless obedience from his subjects. In his sovereignty he graciously gives us the freedom to choose whether or not to submit to his rule.*


For most Americans, choosing to serve the Lord is more about inconvenience than any real sacrifice.  So, what is it about serving the Lord that would make it seem undesirable? Perhaps the answer lies not in sacrifice, but in surrender. Never mind that Jesus said his yoke is easy. We want to have our way and no one is going to tell us how to run our lives!

What about our households? There are people who are faithful to the Lord but who allow their children to get all wrapped up in the world. They aren’t choosing for their household to serve the Lord. We can’t make our children love vegetables but that doesn’t stop us from putting a spoonful on their plates and insisting that they take a bite. We can’t make them love learning but we make them go to school. No, we can’t make our children love the Lord but we can certainly provide them with examples and opportunities. Being in charge of our household is not about their happiness, but their holiness.*

Serving the Lord might seem undesirable if we only look at what is required of us rather than at what is given to us. Denying yourself and taking up your cross can be pretty demanding stuff.  But Joshua’s challenge seems to be this: Speak up if you think you’ve found something better. 


He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him.*


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