Choices

Joshua 24:14-15

Our country finds itself in yet another travesty with needless loss of life. I am not going to get into personal opinions about politics, because this is not the time, place, or platform for such things. But I do want to talk about something that the world keeps forgetting. These awful events are happening because of man’s choice. Everyday when we wake up we have to decide to serve God or serve the devil (1 John 3:6-10) These events are not freak happenings but man being persuaded by the temptation of themselves and the devil to do evil. They are following their father (the devil) and doing what he would have them do. We have a choice in how we will respond as well. Are we going to shy away or are we going to take a stand and declare this day what Joshua declared? Are we going to allow materialism, hatred, greed, envy, covetousness, and every other sin to beat us down and wear us out or are we going to stand and have the faith to say what Joshua said, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the god which your fathers served which ere beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” In times of tragedy I’m often reminded of Job. A man who God said was “For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Much tragedy fell on Job; first all of his servants were murdered, a great fire came and burned his livestock, and others came and murdered his servants and killed what was left of his livestock, second, a great wind (presumably a storm) came and killed all of his children. After dealing with this he did not blame God and God still says he is blameless (Job 2:3) and holds fast to his integrity. After that Satan comes and takes his health and covers him with boils (Job 2:7). His wife asked him why he held fast to his integrity and that he should curse God and die (Job 2:9). He says she was foolish and refused to do so. To Job it was a simple choice, he chose to serve God and not give up. Have we made the same choice? Sometimes we choose wrong like Peter did. In Luke 22:31 Jesus warns Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift him like wheat. Jesus prayed for him and knew he would turn again and strengthen his brothers. After he denied Christ 3 times and repented of that sin he came back stronger than ever a built the church. What are we going to do? Family, Satan has asked permission to sift us to (1 Peter 5:8) . What is going to be our response? Don’t let tragedy around you turn you away from God, but turn to God and strength his church and grow it. It is the best way to turn this world from its darkness. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley