“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
– Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

What does it mean to have the freedom to choose God in a fallen world? Joshua 24:15 calls us to choose whom we will serve, reflecting the biblical truth of free will—God’s gift to humanity to freely love and obey Him. As we’ve explored in this series, Adam and Eve’s pre-Fall state included this gift, enabling their choice to obey or disobey (Genesis 2:16-17). Their decision to eat the forbidden fruit, influenced by Satan’s deception, shows that free will, while a blessing, also made them vulnerable to temptation.

Free will is foundational to our mental and spiritual journey. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve’s minds were unclouded by sin, yet they still chose poorly, lacking discernment to resist Satan’s lies (Genesis 3:1-6). After the Fall, our free will remains, but it’s now tainted by original sin, making us more susceptible to the devil’s confusion. Romans 6:16 asks, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Every day, we choose between sin’s bondage and God’s freedom.

Through Christ, our free will is redeemed. John 7:17 promises that if we choose to do God’s will, we’ll know the truth—a truth that sets us free (John 8:32). The Holy Spirit, as discussed in Part 6, empowers us to make godly choices, renewing our minds to discern the enemy’s tactics (Romans 12:2). When we choose to meditate on Scripture, pray, or worship, we align our will with God’s, overcoming the confusion Satan sows. Obedience flows from understanding, and free will allows us to choose that understanding daily.

Takeaway: Reflect on the choices you make each day. Choose to serve the Lord by spending time in His Word, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions.

Discussion Question: How does understanding your free will inspire you to make intentional choices that honor God, especially in moments of temptation?