Good Morning “God Choosers”. Today we are in Joshua 23.
Joshua’s time is short. He’s about to “go the way of the earth.” That’s a poetic way of saying he’s about to die. As he urges the nation of Israel not to turn away from God but to remember and live by all that Moses commanded we get this little tidbit, ”So be very careful to love the Lord your God.“
Joshua 23:11 NIV
Be careful to love… If love is a feeling, then how can they control it - be careful to do it? We cannot help the way we feel can we? Here we get a clue for how we are to love God and love others. The Hebrew word used for love here is “aheb”. It’s a word often used synonymous with choice or choosing. For instance, it’s the same root word used in Malachi 1:2-3 ”I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated…”.
The world condenses love to a simple feeling, but it’s truly much more than that. Love says “I choose you”! Biblical love is a choice, not a feeling. Those fluffy feelings are a by product of Biblical love. God chose Jacob, Esau He did not. That may mess with our categories, but remember we are all sinners and as such deserve death - eternal separation from God. That’s what we’ve earned, that’s our default destination apart from receiving Jesus. Is God somehow less good because He only chooses some? Time will not allow me to get into a detailed lesson on the doctrine of “election”, but here’s a simplified analogy. Say you rescue a dog from the shelter. Are you somehow evil because you did not take them all? Their destination was death. By grace you saved one. Get the bumper sticker - put it on your car.
Jesus said “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…” John 6:44. You might worry thinking, “What if the Father doesn’t choose me”? Think of it like this… if you’re worried - He’s chosen you. The one He has not chosen is not worried about it - they deny the things of God. Roman’s 3:10-11 reminds us no one seeks after God or righteousness on their own. Your worry is evidence God is knocking on your heart.
If you’re seeking Him, the real question isn’t has God chosen you… the question is will you love (choose) Him? Like any marriage it’s a daily choice to love! It’s a daily “I choose you”!
Love you all! Dig in! Choose Him!
Joshua’s time is short. He’s about to “go the way of the earth.” That’s a poetic way of saying he’s about to die. As he urges the nation of Israel not to turn away from God but to remember and live by all that Moses commanded we get this little tidbit, ”So be very careful to love the Lord your God.“
Joshua 23:11 NIV
Be careful to love… If love is a feeling, then how can they control it - be careful to do it? We cannot help the way we feel can we? Here we get a clue for how we are to love God and love others. The Hebrew word used for love here is “aheb”. It’s a word often used synonymous with choice or choosing. For instance, it’s the same root word used in Malachi 1:2-3 ”I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated…”.
The world condenses love to a simple feeling, but it’s truly much more than that. Love says “I choose you”! Biblical love is a choice, not a feeling. Those fluffy feelings are a by product of Biblical love. God chose Jacob, Esau He did not. That may mess with our categories, but remember we are all sinners and as such deserve death - eternal separation from God. That’s what we’ve earned, that’s our default destination apart from receiving Jesus. Is God somehow less good because He only chooses some? Time will not allow me to get into a detailed lesson on the doctrine of “election”, but here’s a simplified analogy. Say you rescue a dog from the shelter. Are you somehow evil because you did not take them all? Their destination was death. By grace you saved one. Get the bumper sticker - put it on your car.
Jesus said “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…” John 6:44. You might worry thinking, “What if the Father doesn’t choose me”? Think of it like this… if you’re worried - He’s chosen you. The one He has not chosen is not worried about it - they deny the things of God. Roman’s 3:10-11 reminds us no one seeks after God or righteousness on their own. Your worry is evidence God is knocking on your heart.
If you’re seeking Him, the real question isn’t has God chosen you… the question is will you love (choose) Him? Like any marriage it’s a daily choice to love! It’s a daily “I choose you”!
Love you all! Dig in! Choose Him!
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