Final resolution
Joshua 24:14~18 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (15)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #313 Jesus, My King (#352 in previous version)
The Scripture reading is the confession of Joshua who was a leader who fulfilled the works of God. This is the last advice and confession of faith that he gave to the Israelites. Do not see just see this as words of the past; we must hear it as the voice of God. We must confirmthe covenant through the Word. The choices and resolutionsof faith that we make by looking at the works and events in the Bible are important. As we live the one life that we have been given, the thing that we need the most is our sure faith.
1. Hold on to the evidence of the past and go
No one could overcome the family line of Abraham who had the Gospel, the person of faith Job, and the Early Church that realized Christ. No matter what circumstance or hardship comes, falsehoods never once overcame the truth, and the forces of darkness never triumphed over the power of the Holy Spirit. On the day they applied the blood, the Israelites came out from Egypt. With this covenant, they split the Red Sea and the Jordan River. The walls of Jericho were broken, and they overcame the Amorite forces. The miracle of the sun and moon stopping in the sky arose. The Bible tells us the evidence of victory through the power of the Gospel. We believe in this fact, and as a result, we are children of God who have received salvation, and we are the people of heaven. We must have firm faith in this.
2. We must go forward with the faith of today
In Kadesh Barnea, 10 scouts said that they could not go into Canaan land. At that time, Joshua and Caleb said that it was possible (Numbers 14:1~10). God who broke down the walls of Jericho works upon us even now. During the battle against the Amorites, the sun and the moon stopped in the sky, and Caleb had victory over the Anakites. God who is Jehovah Nissi is working even now. Even if we concede all things, it is important for us to carry with us the faith of today.
3. Know that there is an even more important future as you go forward
Just because you enter into Canaan land does not mean that everything has come to an end. The fight against the7 tribes of Canaan still remains, and that place is filled with idolatry. At that time, the last resolution that Joshua made was extremely important before himself and his posterity. As we hold on to the covenant of Christ and head towards world evangelization, there are many blessings and answers left for us to experience. We just need to connect today’s life of the evangelist with the future. Even if there is no evidence that we can see with our eyes,we must believe that there is a more important future promised to us. We must resolve to fear the Lord and serve Him completely and sincerely.
- Meditate on what firm faith is in order to take Joshua’s last resolution as your resolution.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2011.1.30