You Cannot Serve The Lord

I was having a drowsy afternoon this day and I was asking God to help me. The Lord then led me to a devotional for today from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. The title was alright for me, it says "Will You Examine Yourself?". But just right below the title is the verse "Joshua said to the people, ’You cannot serve the Lord . . .’ ~ Joshua 24:19.

I was suddenly awakened! My sleepy eyes widened as I gazed at the verse. It left a deep impression on me this devotional. The following is an excerpt that made me pause for some time in reflection.

"Do you have even the slightest reliance on anything or anyone other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural quality within you, or on any particular set of circumstances? Are you relying on yourself in any manner whatsoever regarding this new proposal or plan which God has placed before you? Will you examine yourself by asking these probing questions? It really is true to say, "I cannot live a holy life," but you can decide to let Jesus Christ make you holy."

~ "My Utmost For His Highest", Oswald Chamber

As I read and attempted to answer the embedded questions within, I could indeed reply "Yes" to all the first 3 questions and it took longer to answer the 4th and finally the 5th with the answer "Yes". These words crashed on me like the mighty ocean waves that slams the seaside beaches, stripping me bear with my naked heart confronted by the ocean of God's truth as the waves subside. It is frightening to hear the statement, but we have a choice to make.

""You cannot serve the Lord . . ."— but you can place yourself in the proper position where God’s almighty power will flow through you. Is your relationship with God sufficient for you to expect Him to exhibit His wonderful life in you? ...

"The person who is still relying and trusting in anything within himself is the last person to even come close to saying, "I will serve the Lord.""

~ "My Utmost For His Highest", Oswald Chamber