Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

"But if serving the Lord

seems undesirable to you,

then choose for yourselves this day

whom you will serve."

Joshua 24:15a (NIV)

Today, I watched the movie "God's Not Dead" with three of my sons. It was an excellent movie! I cried several times throughout while watching it.

It is sad to think people today who call themselves Christians would not hesitate to refuse to defend Jesus and His righteousness if they knew their decision would result in them suffering pain and humiliation, or having to give up loved ones or long-desired dreams. When the choice is given, most people would choose self or other people they love over God, and yet God chose us over His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, the apostles rejoiced when they were flogged for speaking in the Name of Jesus because it was a joy to them to be considered worthy to suffer shame for his Name. Even after the apostles were released by the Council and ordered not to speak further in the Name of Jesus, they continued each day to teach and preach Jesus as the Christ..

"They took his advice;

and after calling the apostles in,

they flogged them

and ordered them not to speak in the Name of Jesus,

and then released them.

So they went on their way

from the presence of the Council,

rejoicing that they had been considered worthy

to suffer shame for His Name.

And every day,

in the temple and from house to house,

they kept right on teaching and preaching

Jesus as the Christ."

Acts 5:40-42 (NASB)