As we get older, we may wonder what people have gleaned from us through the years. What will my name bring to the minds of people as they remember me? I don’t mean to be morbid, but I think we have to be intentional to make our lives truly count for something.
Joshua is nearing the end of his life and gathers Israel to remind them of what God has done and what he has promised to do for them in the future. But he warns them to be strong and obey the Book of the Law of Moses.
3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain — the nations I conquered — between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.
6”Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.
Joshua 23:3-8
He’s reminding them to remember what God has already done for them. The promises that God makes to them are true. Their inheritance is the lands God has conquered and a promise to drive out those God has promised. They must trust and believe in his promises.
Kind of like the line in the song, I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.
We have total control of the decisions we make. It’s your choice. There will be times that we will fail, but walk where God tells you to walk. We need to make a conscious choice to follow God. This made me think of my life. I grew up in a Christian home. My parents took us to church and set a good example for us. But, my parents don’t make my choice to follow God now. We each have to make our own decision, no one else can do that for us. They can pray for God to watch over us and that we make the right choices, but it’s ultimately up to us.
1. Be very careful to love the Lord your God.
God goes ahead of you, you can’t see where he’s going, but you must trust him. Don’t get too bogged down in the culture we live in. There are plenty of other gods we can serve. Money, power, anger, celebrity status
2. The choice is simple and deliberate. We are built to serve.
If you’re not serving in his name, it doesn’t matter how much you know about God. You can’t be a little bit of a Christian. Choose to serve because you are leaving a legacy and be intentional about it!
Legacy is not what you accomplish. It’s what others accomplish because of you. Discipleship is growing fruit on other people’s tree.
The Takeaway for this week’s sermon:
- Write out you final words
- See if what you say matches up to the life you’re living
- Will the life I’m living now leave the legacy I want to leave?
- Search yourself: if you combined the words you wrote with the life you are now living…who or what would it say you’re serving?
There will be rough times. We’ll face problems and see now way out, but God’s mercy will be seen. When we are most vulnerable he will be there with us.
- Walk with Christ, trusting his wilderness victory to be yours.
- You won’t accomplish all of your 2022 resolutions.
- You will fall short of some goals.
- You will progress slowly in some areas.
- You will have sins that continue to nag at your soul.
- You will need mercy .
- You will need grace.
- And if you have Christ, you will have it.
What legacy are you leaving? Is the way you are living pointing the direction you want to go? Take stock and make adjustments if you need to.
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 