December 18, 2015 – Isaiah 26:2-3

Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:2-3May we be counted as a righteous nation filled with the faithful, that we might enter the gate! The gate that leads to our Lord God. The promise is for peace to us all, This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:36Just as Joshua admonished the people long ago…put away the gods your father served, and serve the Lord. We all must choose who we will serve — the gods of the world, man-made gods such as money, pleasure and possessions, for all of these are fleeting. The only eternity-long security for our souls and for those we love is in Christ Jesus. Choosing is not a new year’s resolution, it is a day in and day out choosing. The lure of the world is tempting and does not give up, tempting us through many avenues. Anything seeming to be good can be become a god to us.Joshua’s declaration is telling, But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Serving is delighting in things we cannot see, sharing the love Jesus proclaims to each of us and having His forgiveness when we falter in our walk with Him. There is no peace when there is no faith in Him who became sin and was crucified to open wide the gate to a way of living that in this season and every season brings hope and peace, every moment.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:13-15