The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-19

Inc evening, and took for his text the
familiar words of Joshua in his last
address to the people whom he had led
into the promised land, IF it seem
evil unto You to serve the Lord,
choose We this day whom you will
serve but as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord"
The value of the thing said depends
on the one who says it. Back of the
message is the messenger, confirming
or discounting the utterance What
you are speaks SO loudly that can
not bear what you say" was the COM
ment of a wise one long ago. Apply
this test to Joshua, and his call gets
added emphasis, and comes with ad-
ded strength. For he was a man
we'll worth hearing. BY, his character
and conduct he appealed for careful
consideration of this, ms last word,
to the people over whonr he had
been for years leader and commands
er. He had been a valiant warrior,
discomforting Amelek, while Moses
prayed on the mountain top, his hands
of petition upheld by Aaron and Hur.
He had followed Moses to the noun
tain of communion with God, and had
been with him in ..tne tent of meet
ing He had been one OF the men
sent forward to spy out the land of
Canaan when the pilgrims from Egypt
came to it's borders, and was one of
the two advised that its conquest be
at once attempted-on OF the two
who, of allsthat generation. were per-
mitted at last to go into the land, af.
ter the wanderings of forty years.
And to him had been committed the
leadership when Moses laid it down
and went to his lonely burial in Nebo.
At the end of his service for God
and the people he called them together
for a last message, and the heart Of
it was this appeal of the text, fer a
united and solemn choice of Jehovah
and his service.
If it seem evil unto you. to serve
the Lord" Does it ever seem evil
to men to do this? OF course it does.
Hundreds of men in Keokuk today are
saying that it is better to serve sin
and the world than God and right
eousness. There are only two posi-
bilities Of service, and how many
there are who choose the wrong one.
AS for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord" What fine thing
it is when the father or family, the
head Of a household, can thus cove
l'ant for himself and his house. But
in too many instances the head of the
does not himself Serve
the Lord leaving that to the wife
and children. The home in which the
father does not lead the family in
worship, in which he does not set the
example of christian living, in which
he does not attempt to lead the child
rem in the ways of righteousness, is
not the sort of household which God
intends and approves. Oh that we
had more men in Keokuk who were
leading their families in the service
Of God,
Choose ye." Choice is inevitable.
The lines of life are not laid down so
hard and fast that We are machines.
Joshua tried to lead this people to a
wise choice by recalling to them
the mercies of God which had been
with them and with their fathers.
And this is ever the basis of the ap-
peal, and the warrant for the choice.
Even men who are dishonoring God
by their daily living are IN the midst
Of Gods mercies.
"This day" No other day belongs
to us. We have this one, but we have
no more than this one. If choice is
to be made, this may be the only OPP
portunity.
How the service may be rendered
will depend on the character and
The MINISTER OF the
gospel will serve in one way: the
business man In another; the wife
and mother In her special field: the
child In one way, the adult in another,
The matter of supreme Importance is
that God be served, loved, honored.