My House!

"You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him."

Joshua is no pansy. He is not weak. He is not afraid of upsetting people's applecart. He has a passion to serve God and is intent on calling others not only to the reward but also the challenge of doing so. If nothing else he certainly is not worried that they might become upset and walk out. Church's should pay heed...not that we want people to leave but that we should not hold the power of God hostage (even if that were possible) for fear that some might find it too daunting.

Obviously I am wrestling with something here. I know what it is like to waffle. I know what it is like to wonder if a message will be received if not by the church than my colleagues. The truth be told I am envious of Joshua's passion and conviction. Here he his in the midst of his people. He is speaking to them as adults. He, without apology, offers them a crossroads. He is not pleading with them telling them "no, no don't go down that path of idolatry or chasing false God's." He is not trying to convince them "See our Lord is good... follow him" He simply and passionately makes a crossroad apparent... whom will you serve? Followed by that oft quoted line that hangs in so many Christian houses, "Me and my house serve the Lord."

And then the people ponder... HMMMMMMMMM... and they even reply well "yes we must respect the Lord. After all he has saved us/ lead us out of slavery/did great signs/went out before us etc, etc" "yes," they say "we will serve the Lord." And then it gets interesting.

Joshua then lays it out. Although he does not say it, Joshua tells the crowd that God will not be mocked. Joshua lets them know that God plays for keeps. It is as if the crowd there is playing basketball. They think they are driving the lane on some gauky and gangly seventh grader who would rather be anywhere else than the basketball court. The crowd may even think that God is on there side... did He not deliver them from all their distress? They think that God is driving the lane with them... then Joshua reverses the scene...



They are not playing against some mambee pambee pimply 7th grader but Kevin Garnett, Marcus Camby or Dwayne Wade. God stands there in the middle of the lane and asks "Don't bring your weak game to me because if you do, I'm going to swat it out of here."

What makes the scene interested is that Joshua... in caring for the people... challanges them to A.) realize that God has stayed true to His Covenant and B.) understand that to choose God is a commitment.