By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer

A friend reminded me last week of the day-to-day aspect of faith when she mentioned an Old Testament challenge from the great warrior Joshua:

“Choose you this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15 ).

The reference was familiar to me, perhaps too much so. For as someone who has believed in God’s goodness and grace for most of her life, the choice came long ago.

Or so I thought.

Shouldn’t it be a daily decision I make – to serve, believe, trust, hold on to the Lord? Or have I allowed outside influences and circumstances to sway me by pulling me into the past or the future, two places I really can’t go.

“No time like the present,” the old adage says.

As I considered the limited and very present properties of “this day,” other biblical references came to mind.

• The Israelites in the wilderness gathered enough mana – God’s miraculously provided food – for only one day. (The day before the Sabbath they gathered enough for two, so they would have a day of rest.) (Exodus 16:4)
• Jesus may have given a nod to manna when, centuries later, He taught His followers to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
• The great preacher Paul said, “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

But the closest to Joshua’s challenge comes in the words of Jesus when He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Just as we see a new sunrise each morning, signifying a fresh start, may we renew our choice each day to follow the Lord where He leads.

~

ADVENT

For those who practice the centuries-old tradition of celebrating Advent, looking forward to the coming of Christ and Christmas, today is the first Sunday of four leading up to Christmas. The candle lit in many homes and churches signifies Hope.

Read Psalm 39:7 – And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

May your coming week be filled with Hope in God’s promise of mercy, love, and grace.

~

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