“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15, NIV)
I’m guessing you don’t play golf with hesitation. You don’t say to yourself, “I really don’t want to go out there on this sunny day and enjoy the green grass and the challenge of the game. But I’ll do it if I have to.”
Rather, I’m thinking that you head out eagerly, ready for the weather, ready for the course, and as ready as possible with your swing, no matter how bad your friends tell you it is! In fact, if you’re like most golfers, once that tee time is set, you will do all you can to keep to it.
And there you have the difference between being resigned and being resolved. Throughout Scripture, the “champions” of God were resolved.
Joshua stood with his family, stared down the people irresolute people of God and said, “You do what you want. We’re serving God.”
David turned his heart to the Lord, going after him with contrition and humility, but also faith and dedication.
Elisha told Elijah he would not leave his mentor’s side; he wanted what “the old man” had—the Spirit of God.
Even the disciples, fumbling and bumbling as they were, did not resign themselves to following Jesus, as if there was nothing better to do. They saw in him the hope of Israel (and of their own salvation) and they made every attempt to follow him. Oh, they fell. James and John asked for special consideration. The eleven fell asleep in the garden. Peter, who had promised he would go to the cross with Jesus, turned away from the Lord in both men’s darkest hour. Thomas had to see the scars to believe again. But they never gave up. They never said, “Oh, I guess I’ll serve the Lord today.” Their minds and their hearts were set in place.
We will all make mistakes in acting out our faith. But the one mistake we must not make is cool-heartedness toward the Lord. For his sake and ours, let us be a most resolved people!
—
Jeff Hopper
January 20, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday through Friday at www.linksplayers.com.