April 26th, 2025
by Rose Marie Abraham
by Rose Marie Abraham
The Choice is Yours: Grace, Glory, and God's Unfailing Love
In life, we're constantly faced with choices. Some are trivial, like choosing between Coke or Pepsi. Others are more significant, like deciding which car to drive or where to live. But there's one choice that stands above all others - the choice of whom we will serve.
This profound decision was presented to the Israelites thousands of years ago by their leader Joshua. As he neared the end of his life, Joshua gathered the people and issued a challenge that still resonates today: "Choose you this day whom you will serve."
Joshua's words remind us that our choices reveal our preferences. What we choose shows what we value most. And when it comes to spiritual matters, our choices have eternal consequences.
But before we dive into the weight of this decision, we must first acknowledge two crucial elements that shape our ability to choose: grace and glory.
Grace: The Unearned Gift
Grace is not something we can choose or earn. It's a gift freely given by God. It's His unmerited, undeserved, and unpurchasable favor. We don't deserve it, but we desperately need it.
Every morning, before our feet touch the ground, God's grace is already waiting for us. It's easy to forget about grace when we've become accustomed to comfort and abundance. We start thinking we've earned our blessings or that we deserve what we have. But it's crucial to remember that everything good in our lives stems from God's grace.
The Israelites experienced this grace firsthand. When the death angel swept through Egypt, it was God's grace that protected them, causing the angel to "pass over" their blood-marked homes. Throughout their journey from slavery to the Promised Land, it was God's grace that sustained them, forgave their rebellions, and continually delivered them.
Glory: The Manifest Presence of God
While we can't choose grace, we desperately need God's glory in our lives. The glory of God is His manifest presence, His power made visible. For the Israelites, this glory appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, leading them through the wilderness. It was the glory of God that parted the Red Sea, that settled on Mount Sinai, and that filled the tabernacle.
We need God's glory to shine on us today just as much as the Israelites did then. When God's glory touches our lives, it changes everything. It shifts atmospheres, alters situations, and transforms how people respond to us. In the face of uncertainty - whether it's a looming medical diagnosis, potential job loss, or any other challenge - we need to cry out, "Lord, let your glory shine on me!"
The God of Grace and Glory
At the heart of this message is not just grace or glory, but the God who provides both. This is the God who defeated Pharaoh and his army, who brought His people through countless trials and tribulations. This is the Creator who spoke the universe into existence, who formed humanity from dust and breathed life into us.
This God is a way-maker, a comforter, an advocate, and a promise-keeper. He's the God who heals, who dries our tears, and who never fails. This is the God we're called to choose, the one Joshua urged the Israelites to serve.
The Ultimate Choice
While our choice is important, there's an even more significant choice that was made on our behalf over 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ, God's only Son, chose us. He chose to leave heaven's glory and come to earth. He chose to endure ridicule, torture, and death on a cross - all for our sake.
As Jesus knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood, He was choosing us. As He was led from one unjust trial to another, He was choosing us. As nails were driven into His hands and feet, He was choosing us. With each labored breath on the cross, He was choosing us.
Jesus made this choice knowing there was a penalty for sin that we could never pay. He chose to take our place, to bear our punishment, so that we could be reconciled to God. As Isaiah prophesied, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
Our Response
Now, the choice is ours. Will we choose to serve the God who has already chosen us? Will we respond to His grace and seek His glory in our lives?
The apostle Paul gives us clear instruction: "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Choosing to follow Christ doesn't mean our lives will suddenly become perfect or free from challenges. But it does mean we'll never face those challenges alone. We'll have the grace of God to sustain us and the glory of God to guide us.
As you reflect on this message, consider the choices you're making each day. Are they drawing you closer to God or pulling you away? Are you seeking His grace and His glory, or are you relying solely on your own strength?
Remember Joshua's bold declaration: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." May we have the courage to make the same choice, to align our lives with the God who chose us first, who lavishes us with grace, and who longs to reveal His glory through us.
The choice is yours. Who will you serve today?
In life, we're constantly faced with choices. Some are trivial, like choosing between Coke or Pepsi. Others are more significant, like deciding which car to drive or where to live. But there's one choice that stands above all others - the choice of whom we will serve.
This profound decision was presented to the Israelites thousands of years ago by their leader Joshua. As he neared the end of his life, Joshua gathered the people and issued a challenge that still resonates today: "Choose you this day whom you will serve."
Joshua's words remind us that our choices reveal our preferences. What we choose shows what we value most. And when it comes to spiritual matters, our choices have eternal consequences.
But before we dive into the weight of this decision, we must first acknowledge two crucial elements that shape our ability to choose: grace and glory.
Grace: The Unearned Gift
Grace is not something we can choose or earn. It's a gift freely given by God. It's His unmerited, undeserved, and unpurchasable favor. We don't deserve it, but we desperately need it.
Every morning, before our feet touch the ground, God's grace is already waiting for us. It's easy to forget about grace when we've become accustomed to comfort and abundance. We start thinking we've earned our blessings or that we deserve what we have. But it's crucial to remember that everything good in our lives stems from God's grace.
The Israelites experienced this grace firsthand. When the death angel swept through Egypt, it was God's grace that protected them, causing the angel to "pass over" their blood-marked homes. Throughout their journey from slavery to the Promised Land, it was God's grace that sustained them, forgave their rebellions, and continually delivered them.
Glory: The Manifest Presence of God
While we can't choose grace, we desperately need God's glory in our lives. The glory of God is His manifest presence, His power made visible. For the Israelites, this glory appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, leading them through the wilderness. It was the glory of God that parted the Red Sea, that settled on Mount Sinai, and that filled the tabernacle.
We need God's glory to shine on us today just as much as the Israelites did then. When God's glory touches our lives, it changes everything. It shifts atmospheres, alters situations, and transforms how people respond to us. In the face of uncertainty - whether it's a looming medical diagnosis, potential job loss, or any other challenge - we need to cry out, "Lord, let your glory shine on me!"
The God of Grace and Glory
At the heart of this message is not just grace or glory, but the God who provides both. This is the God who defeated Pharaoh and his army, who brought His people through countless trials and tribulations. This is the Creator who spoke the universe into existence, who formed humanity from dust and breathed life into us.
This God is a way-maker, a comforter, an advocate, and a promise-keeper. He's the God who heals, who dries our tears, and who never fails. This is the God we're called to choose, the one Joshua urged the Israelites to serve.
The Ultimate Choice
While our choice is important, there's an even more significant choice that was made on our behalf over 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ, God's only Son, chose us. He chose to leave heaven's glory and come to earth. He chose to endure ridicule, torture, and death on a cross - all for our sake.
As Jesus knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood, He was choosing us. As He was led from one unjust trial to another, He was choosing us. As nails were driven into His hands and feet, He was choosing us. With each labored breath on the cross, He was choosing us.
Jesus made this choice knowing there was a penalty for sin that we could never pay. He chose to take our place, to bear our punishment, so that we could be reconciled to God. As Isaiah prophesied, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
Our Response
Now, the choice is ours. Will we choose to serve the God who has already chosen us? Will we respond to His grace and seek His glory in our lives?
The apostle Paul gives us clear instruction: "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Choosing to follow Christ doesn't mean our lives will suddenly become perfect or free from challenges. But it does mean we'll never face those challenges alone. We'll have the grace of God to sustain us and the glory of God to guide us.
As you reflect on this message, consider the choices you're making each day. Are they drawing you closer to God or pulling you away? Are you seeking His grace and His glory, or are you relying solely on your own strength?
Remember Joshua's bold declaration: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." May we have the courage to make the same choice, to align our lives with the God who chose us first, who lavishes us with grace, and who longs to reveal His glory through us.
The choice is yours. Who will you serve today?
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