10-10-21 “Only Serve the Lord”
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Joshua 24:14-24
Pastor Jenny Lee, Ph.D.
“Only Serve the Lord”
Today, I want to talk about how we should “Only serve the Lord.” We are experiencing difficulties; especially dealing with all the problems living with the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic brought many issues to the forefront, like political and social issues. It made us hate each other, suspect each other, fight with each other, and divide from each other. We hear more bad news than good news. We often pass the bad news on to one another, and the bad news goes round and round like rumors and comes back to us like a boomerang. Moreover, COVID-19 made churches, stores, schools, and many organizations unable to function. Many Christians lost their faith and left their churches during the pandemic. Many people lost their jobs, loved ones, and shelters because of the pandemic. We live with the fear of “COVID phobia.” We are worried about what will happen to us in the future and what will happen to our church.
Two weeks ago, in the ICD (Institution of Congregational Development) session, a survey asked participants about “what are you looking for from ICD training.” Fifty-seven percent answered, “Hope for the church.” It showed us that the pandemic left churches unable to function and losing hope. Even though churches reopened, worship attendance in most churches reduced by more than 20 % compared to attendance before the pandemic. Even pastors are having anxieties about what will happen in the church in the future. However, worries and fears cannot help us grow in faith. Rather, it makes us go far from God. Only by committing to God will we take away all worries and anxieties.
The Apostle Paul says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We wonder how we can be joyful always and give thanks in all circumstances even though it is God’s will. Can we be joyful in the pandemic? Can you give thanks even though many have left the church? Yes, we can. In the survey of the ICD, there was a question about “How do you feel about the future of your church?” The answers of being hopeful and optimistic are 72%. Yes, as long as you commit to God, our church is hopeful.
We know Elijah very well. He didn’t die, but was lifted up to heaven. He also had times in fear and anxiety because he saw many people leaving God and worshiping Baal. He was afraid of being alone after all left God. At that moment, God was present before him and said, “Yet, I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.” (1 King 19:18). Have hope in the future of our church. Who knows, God reserves new members who will commit to God in sincerity and faithfulness.
Central- Grantsburg has a town hall meeting today. While I prayed for it, today’s scripture came to my mind. “Town Hall Meeting,” as you may know, means to call all people in a town to gather together at a place to discuss an issue or a specific topic. It is a kind of informal meeting to hear everyone’s opinions and ask everyone to make a decision. The idea of “Town Hall meetings” may be used in the United States, but we can also find such meetings in the scripture. One of the examples is in today’s scripture.
In today’s scripture, Joshua called people for a town hall meeting. He assembled all the tribes of Israel in Shechem. He called the elders, leaders, judges, and officials of Israel, and they presented before God. Joshua brought them an urgent issue, “Only serve the Lord.” He thought that it was a significant time to decide whether they were committed to God or not. Joshua told them how God guided their ancestors, blessed Abraham, brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and how God helped them to conquer the Promised Land, Canaan. And then, he said, “Now, therefore, serve the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now, if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua’s faith was firm in God. He had experienced who God is.
As you know, Joshua was one of the two people who survived the wilderness for forty years. When all Israelites complained to God and Moses, he didn’t complain at all. Before Israelites conquered Canaan, Moses sent twelve people to explore Canaan. After exploring Canaan, the twelve representatives returned to Moses and reported to Moses before the Israelite community. Ten out of twelve said that “the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large. But we can’t attack those people. They are stronger than we are. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Hearing that report, all people cried out the whole night and grumbled against Moses. However, Joshua with Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” They said to the whole Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and God will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:7-9).
Yes, indeed. If God is pleased with us, God will lead us to move forward. If you commit to the church, our church will be revitalized. If you believe, you may see that God makes things happen in our church. “Faith is to have hope in the uncertainty.” As you know, Israelites died like grasshoppers in the wilderness, as they mentioned in their grumbling. God said, “As surely as I live, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: Your dead bodies shall fall in this very wilderness.” (Numbers 14:28-30). So they all died in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua as God said. Caleb and Joshua conquered the land and got all the possessions of the land.
Today, all people who gather together in the scripture decided to serve only God. Joshua said to them, “Now then, throw away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord” (Joshua 24:23). We cannot serve God and the other gods together. If you decide to serve God, please serve God with your whole hearts and whole minds. If God is pleased with us, our church will have a hopeful future. Remember how you grew in faith through this church, and how God has led us so far. “Be joyful always and give thanks to God in all circumstances.” Thanks be to God. Amen!