ARE YOU ABLE TO SERVE THE LORD?

Josh. 24:19-20  Then Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy and jealous God.  He will not forgive your rebelliousness and sins.  If you forsake the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”

      Are you able to serve the Lord?  Or, does your independent spirit and sins keep you away from God?  Because He is holy, God will not let you draw near to Him if you are not living humbly before Him.  If you have other things in life you are going after other than God, He will let you go.  He will turn His back on all who would forsake Him.

      In fact, He will turn against you if you turn against Him.  The Lord is jealous and will not share His love and devotion with anyone or anything.  He desires all of your love and devotion.  If you are not willing to give it to Him, you just need to know that the Lord will not be in your corner.  He will not bless you.  Unless you repent and give Him His rightful place in your life, He will bring you down.  Guaranteed.

      Notice that Joshua told the people that if they forsook the Lord and chased after other gods that the Lord would not forgive their rebelliousness and sins.  A god would be anything that takes the place of God in one’s life.  Anything or anyone we value more than God becomes a god to us.  God will not tolerate such behavior.  There is no hope of salvation for anyone who forsakes God and chasing after other gods.  The Lord will not share our loyalties.  Until Jesus has all of our heart, we are not able to serve Him.  God must be Lord of our hearts.

Are you able to serve the Lord?  Have you settled the issue as to who is Lord of your life?  Can you honestly say that Jesus is your all-consuming desire, that you live for Him alone?  If Jesus is not Lord of your heart, God will turn His back on you unless you repent.  Destruction is certain for all who forsake the Lord and chase after other gods.