NOT
ONE BEHIND
The
Christian race has never been a selfish one. Christ as our example has been a
selfless being and we must all have our eyes on him. Christ in his death died
for all… that through him all might be saved.
In
our service to God we often times may forget the neighbours, brothers, sisters,
roommates, colleagues and family who may be unawares of the race towards the
prize:
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one
gets the prize? Run in such a way as to
get the prize. NIV
Joshua
having reviewed the blessings of the Lord upon his people took a stance to
serve the Lord all his days. To run the race that he may receive the prize
It
is certain that Joshua did not seek to benefit alone. He declared the duty of
serving the Lord, as well as the service to God by his family.
Joshua 24:15b: ……but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. ASV.
Joshua went further to bring to the notice of
the Israelites the ‘good works’ of the Lord throughout their time with him.
Josh 24:14-15
Now therefore fear Jehovah, and
serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers
served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.15 And if it seem
evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose
you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served
that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye
dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. ASV
Joshua,
after doing this, puts the charge to them - whom you will serve?
Waking
up each day with the breathe of a new life also hangs a service to God, to ask
that friend, the sitting partner the colleague at work, the security officer at
work, the cleaner, the ‘trotro mate’, the quiet girl at church, the boy always
sitting on the pew in the corner, Daddy, Mummy, Auntie, nibling whom will you
serve?
Telling
them who you are serving too. Tell them that wondrous experience it is.
Let’s
not assume that the religiosity they exhibit are of true service to God.
Don’t
waver in the options, I will put in simple terms just as the prophet Elijah
does,
1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before
the people and said, "How long will
you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is
God, follow him." ………………
True
service indeed should be willingly and not in anyways forced. When they come to
understand the love that is shared between you and the maker, answering the
question whom will you serve comes out naturally the Holy Spirit being in the driving
seat.
Declare
boldly your stance. This being done is enough! Not stuttering in whom you will
serve the duty you have.
Micah 4:5 All the nations may walk
in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for
ever and ever.
Having
taking a step adding diligence and dedicating self to the work the service to God
is on the go…. The race is heated- the baton still in hand.
Others
need to join. Extending the hand of fellowship to them, calling them to duty.
In the modern society we tend to look at what
we can possess, what we can gain, and always forgetting the generality of
society.
Today we all have a
service to God to take along all who slumber and are being left behind in the
spirit of Christ Jesus not leaving us behind.
We leave no one behind, No!
Not one behind!
Atandzi Henry Enyonam.
