The Choice is Yours

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

God did not create mankind as robots, destined to fulfill His desire whether we want to or not. Instead, He gave mankind the right to choose whether to follow or deny Him. But every choice has a consequence, either good or bad. God respects our choices and will not override them.

You can choose faith or fear, surrender or stubbornness, obedience or pride, but every decision bears a harvest. Your relatives, friends, and even your children also have free will. You can’t force them to choose God. Sometimes, that realization is very hard for some to accept. Still, you can intercede and pray for God’s mercy.

Yes, praying can delay disaster and create opportunities for repentance; however, in the end, God's respect for their decisions will prevail. Mercy is an opportunity, not a loophole. God gives us mercy to give extra time to follow Him. But if their hearts harden, God’s mercy will eventually give way to justice. You cannot control every decision your family members make, but you can influence the atmosphere of your home. Joshua understood that his personal commitment to following God would impact his entire family line. You may not be able to force your family to choose God, but you can plant seeds of faith for the whole family. Declare, “In this home, the Word is final. In this home, prayer takes priority. In this home, peace rules.” Refuse to let indecision define your household. Stand firm in what you believe and lead with love.

Practical Application

Spend time today praying for loved ones who are lost. You can’t make them choose God, but you can pray for God’s mercy and for Him to send laborers across their path to speak a Word that will impact them. Intercede without anxiety, knowing that you have sown a seed of faith.

1 Kings 18:21; John 6:68