You May Not Be Able to Serve the Lord

Synopsis     Joshua 24:16-28     5/29/2018

The people were in a dialogue with Joshua. He had invited the Israelite leadership to Shechem for a final audience before his impending death. In the course of this conversation, the Israelites asserted their commitment and determination to serve the Lord.

Joshua questioned whether or not they could actually serve the Lord because of their persistent tendency to seek foreign gods. The people insisted they could and would serve the Lord.

With this, Joshua made a covenant with the people before sending them away.

You May Not Be Able to Serve the Lord

It’s kind of strange thing to say: “You may not be able to serve the Lord.” Why would Joshua question the Israelite’s determination to serve God in such an offensive way?

How Would I Like This?

I’m trying to imagine someone saying to me, “You may not be able to serve the Lord.” My natural tendency would be to take offense. I’d want to show the person that I could indeed serve the Lord, and probably better than most people.

And yet, I completely agree with St. Augustine. I can do no really good thing on my own, but only by the Holy Spirit that dwells in me. So yes, it’s true – I can’t serve the Lord. I need the grace of God even to serve God.

And in this sense, it’s all mercy and grace. God’s mercy and grace mysteriously working toward a purpose and potential that I really can’t even imagine. To the extent that I’ve experienced healing and salvation, it has all come entirely because of God’s goodness to me.

“Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.” Psa 113:2