Choices

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“. . . choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers in the region served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in the land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 14:15 (NIV)

One morning, I awoke and started thinking about the choices we make in our lives. We start doing this when the alarm clock rings, awakening us to begin a new day. There is a feature on them today about which I have learned to have conflicting emotions, the snooze alarm. If I have not slept well or not at all, I always push it repeatedly. Each step of the day presents alternatives to our lives, we can choose plan A or plan B. Let’s look at the scripture and see what we can learn.

“Choose” definition: to pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives. Or decide on a course of action, typically after rejecting alternatives.^.(1)

            We choose what we wear for the day or the evening. We choose what we want to eat or purchase for ourselves or our families. We select our form of entertainment, what television shows we will watch. We even pick out the time we will retire for the night.

“Serve” definition: perform duties or services for (another person or an organization). Or present (food or drink) to someone. ⁽²⁾

We will celebrate Memorial Day, a time to remember those who lost their lives while serving our nation, this weekend.

            People who work for our towns, cities, states, and our nation serve the people of their areas.

Those in the military are serving our country. When I was growing up, my parents used to say that someone was ‘in the service’ when that person was in the Army or any branch of the military. Some of these men and women choose to spend 20 or more years in the military.

            When we go out to eat, we receive assistance from servers who see to it we have an enjoyable experience as we partake of our meal.

            In our faith communities, we have leaders who choose to commit their lives to full-time Christian service. They serve God and the people of the church, the majority of them doing this their whole lives. I personally know of two pastors who served churches in their retirement years. Another pastor worked after he retired, on the chaplaincy staff of a hospital in our town.

            The laity is made up of people who choose to give their time and talents to the church as God leads them. I know a woman who does a lot for her church that most of the people with whom she worships don’t know she does.

            God has chosen us to serve Him and His people. From time to time we need to take stock and see if we are serving Him as we should.

1.    1.    Google search 5/25/2017

2.    2.    Google search 5/25/2017