As For You …

Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

This scripture portrays an important aspect that I like to call ‘the factor of individuality.’ Even in the throng or group of God’s people, the writer saw himself as an independent unit, and made a choice for the rest of His life.

In life, we usually want to go with the band wagon. But the Lord taught me that there would be things that would be between you and Him. No other parties involved. Just you;

As for Daniel … he prayed thrice a day. We don’t see Abednego, Meshach and Shadrach joining in! It was completely personal!

As for Timothy, he was told not to let anyone despise his youth! Others could let others be despised. Even the congregants could have said ‘It happens to every young man.’ But Timothy had to heed!

As for the lady who bled for twelve years, she said to herself, “If I could touch the hem of His garment…” If I, If I, If I — not if we!

As for you, what is your instruction? Everyone wears armor! But you have no experience of it! David If you wear it, it will weigh you down! You could die in front of Goliath; better stick to the bareness, and trust the sling as opposed to the sword you’ve never wielded!

As for you, Ruth! Go glean the fields! Go lie at Boaz’ s feet. And let his skirt over you. He will save you from widowhood, and grant thee an eternal inheritance.

As for you Esther. Not only oil yourself … listen to Hegai. He knows the king. He has served him years and days! If you go with the bare minimum, you might return ordinary!

As for you, Moses … strike the rock today! But that instruction might change … to speaking to the rock! So do not cling to what was declared last time. It’d be a new strategy. He’s a dynamic God! Splitting the sea could become walking the sea!

You have tarried all night, but because Jesus said … — then cast your nets one more time Peter!

Individual group instructions are also available; ‘Fill the pots with water and serve the guests’ was an instruction given to an individual group! If they expected more people to join them, or if they expected others to fill the pots, and serve the guests, it’d have gone South!

Go show yourself to the high priest ye lepers. Jesus declared. But even in that, one returned to thank, and he was made whole.

We need wisdom! Special wisdom that goes back to the individualistic level or unit!

There were ten virgins as well. The five were wise and the others were foolish! I suppose of the foolish, one could have said, “Shouldn’t we carry more oil like the others?”

Another could have said, “No way. I have a clutch to carry, so I have no room to bear extra oil.”

Her thought could have influenced the others to drop the matter, and in due process they missed the groom when He came.

And so I pray that we might carry out our individual instructions to fulfillment. May our close ones or covenant friends lead none of us astray but wisdom — without whom God wouldn’t have laid up the firmament, may she bear us up through every endeavor! And may we be too consecrated to go even alone even if all fish is swimming the opposite direction!

O Holy Spirit help us.

O Holy Spirit help us.

O Holy Spirit help you!