August 2008 Newsletter from the Pastor

“Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.” I Chronicles 16:28-29

An elderly lady was stone-deaf. She was always present at the worship servives of her church unless she was ill. “Do give me the secret of your loyalty to God’s house,” her pastor said to her one day. She answered: “Even though I can’t hear one word you say, I love God’s house and the fellowship of God’s children. When in His house, I feel that I am in direct touch with God. I know the Savior is meeting with us. It is not enough for me to worship God alone at home. It is my duty and privilege to worship Him publicly in the church service.”

That story was found in an old book. I suspect that if the lady spoken of was described as elderly when the account was written, she is now worshipping her Lord in another location. But she must also be glad for the effort she made to do what she could to be near her Savior with the brief time she was on earth.

Do you see that kind of attitude with those who call themselves Christians today? Do you think Joshua was concerned with God’s people failing in this area, even as they were settling into the Promised Land?

In Joshua 23, he talked about how he was about to go to the way of all the earth. He reminded Israel of how God had kept His promises to them. He also warned them of how God would bring evil on them if they violated the covenant they had with Him. He warned them not to go and serve other gods and bow down to them. He said, “…the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land He has given you.”

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel and he summoned its leaders. He recounted what God had done for Israel and how He had given them ‘… a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build.’

Then Joshua said, “Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 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.”

Do you think they did? Our study in Acts has put the spotlight on an early church characterized by times of tremendous devotion. The Holy Spirit was at work and people were believing in Jesus and living for Him. The church was alive! Even when the persecution started, there were those who held fast to the faith and kept a distance from the world. Acts 9:31 describes a time when the scattered church enjoyed a time of peace. “It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” Is that where we are today?

Like the Israelites in Joshua’s day, we need to respond to his challenge to them. He concluded Joshua 24:15 with the words, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Is that what you are doing? Are you and your household faithfully worshipping and serving the One you call your LORD?