Threatening or Thrilling?

Choosing the right focus

Joshua 24:15: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

What does Joshua mean … we will serve the Lord?

This is in the context of choosing between serving the pagan gods of Canaan and God. Joshua says this in a way that emphasizes the great value and supreme worth of God. For him, it was exciting to serve the Lord. When we focus on God’s love and care and see Him for who He is … it will be thrilling to submit to him.

This is far different from seeing God through the lens of threats and warnings of punishment. Do you do what He says in a way that only calls attention to the fact that He is an authority and not a treasure? That is not the type of service God desires.

How do we keep the proper perspective?

God doesn’t need our service.

Acts 17.25: neither is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, ...

Mark 10.45: for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

God doesn’t need anything. So, when we serve Him, it is about what He gives us. Now that is exciting! As we serve God, we are constantly receiving from Him, as Peter says in 1 Peter 4.11:

if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.

As we live our lives in obedience, the strength to do so comes from God. It is never about us. It’s all about the Father being glorified through Jesus Christ.

Our obedience is actually the result of faith, not the producer of it. We launch forward in trust … knowing He will supply whatever we need (life and breath and all things, Acts 17.25). This is how doing what God commands is never a burden, 1 John 5.3. Instead, its such a joy! It fills our hearts with gladness. It does not mean we are diminishing God’s authority over us, but obedience driven by love and joy is much more desirable and sustainable.

All the glory goes to God.

Serve the Lord with gladness; … for the Lord is good, and His faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations, Psalm 100.2a, 5.