Ordinary Time

Pause

Take a moment. Close your eyes and mind to everything around you. Let the noise of the world fade.

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

In the quiet of this time, rest in that promise.

Listen

Then Joshua said to the people, “You can’t serve the Lord, because he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He won’t forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you leave the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn around and do you harm and finish you off, in spite of having done you good in the past.”

Then the people said to Joshua, “No! The Lord is the one we will serve.”

So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

They said, “We are witnesses!”

Joshua 24:19-22

Think

Joshua is not trying to discourage the people of Israel here, but rather to let them know the seriousness of the commitment they have made. In Luke 14, Jesus directly refers to the need for his followers to be serious. Jesus states: “Whoever doesn’t carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

In sum, a commitment to follow God is not casual. Too often in our world we make loose commitments we never intend to keep. We tell a friend he can count on us but leave him when the chips are down. We don’t make the unpopular choice to include others who are different or differently abled.

I need to recommit each day, to let God know I’m going to do my best to be “all in.” What about you? Are you ready to really commit? Remember, committing doesn’t mean you’ll always be successful, it means you’ll try. God’s forgiveness and grace is always there when you fail.

Bill Ogletree

Pray

Lord I want to be all in today. Give me the courage to follow you when the path is narrow. Give me the grace to know I’ll get another try when I fail. Amen.

Go

Go from this time asking, “Whom will I serve today?”

Remember, you’re not a random accident. God, the author of all things, started your story and has your back.

God is worthy of your service.