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Joy is a stable and ever present attitude in the midst of life. It is more than
happiness. It is more than laughter. It is closely related to peace and hope.
But it was not a joy that was based on circumstances; it was a joy that was based
on the power, the person, and the purposes of God!
How does joy take root? How do we get joy to grow in the soil of our souls and lives?
And joy is a characteristic of endurance.
Joshua 24:15
15But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the
River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and
my household, we will serve the LORD.
1. The first thing we see revealed is a whole-hearted commitment to please God.
Choose for your selves this day who you will serve AS for me
2. The second thing we see is a wholehearted commitment to serve
As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord
Luke 4:8
8Jesus answered, It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.
1. The first thing we see revealed is a Command to serve:
Obedience is the hallmark of our commitment to the Lord. We cannot afford to be
causal about our relationship with Him.
But what about God calling us to serve as He did Mary?
Luke 1:26-38
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
The virgins name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who
are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this
might be. 30But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor
with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him
the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The
Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the
house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.
34How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin?
35The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of
God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she
who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with
God.
38I am the Lords servant, Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said.
Then the angel left her.
1. The first thing we see revealed is a whole-hearted commitment to please God.
Two questions could be thrown out "Who do you serve?" and "Who are you
committed too?" People today say they just do not commit to anything but in reality
they do:
I see people commit to playing sports
I see people commit to watching sports and supporting there favorite teams
I see people commit to there jobs
I see people commit to there houses
I see people commit to the pursuit of money
I see people commit to watching their favorite TV shows
I see people commit to themselves- to live their life their way
I see people commit to political parties
I see people commit to the pursuit of pleasure
I see people commit to education
I see people commit to certain foods