“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
Joshua had served the Lord faithfully, first under Moses and then as the leader after Moses died. Now he is near the end of his life, and he calls the people together to renew the covenant that the Lord had made with them. He reminds them of how the Lord had been with them, supplying their needs, and giving them victory over the inhabitants of the land. Now they are about to go and possess the inheritance. He exhorts them not to serve the gods of the land, but to stand true to the God who had brought them to this promised land.
Joshua goes a step further and declares that whatever they chose, he and his household would serve the Lord. He made the choice not only for himself but for his family.
Judges 2:7 tells us: “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.”
The greatest choice we can ever make is to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. That decision not only affects the rest of our lives but the lives of our families as well.
I was just young when my father gave his life to the Lord. I remember him saying that he knelt in the Blacksmith Shop where he worked and asked the Lord to save his family. He started a family altar in our home, and we learned to pray together. We went to Sunday School and church regularly. He made a choice that affected all five of us. As we became adults, we all had to make our personal choice to serve God. I am so thankful that we all found good partners, who were also serving the Lord.
No matter what your family looks like – newly married couples, those with young children, parents of teenagers, or just a young person waiting for the Lord to send that right partner to you – make the choice today that your family is going to serve God, regardless of what others do. It is never too late to make that decision.
As we listen to the news in our world today, we realize that the family structure has fallen apart. Everyone is so busy with activities that they hardly see one another. No longer does the family eat meals together. And even when they do, their cell phones are in their hands. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can make sure our family is different.
This old saying is still true today: “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.” Having a personal and family prayer time is essential. Attending worship services together is important. When God’s love fills our homes, they are places of rest and peace. They are not just a place where we eat and sleep, but a place of comfort and stability, a place where we can be ourselves, and feel safe.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the family heritage that you have given me. Help me to ever keep You in first place in my life. Like Joshua, our commitment is “as for me and my house, I will serve the Lord.:
Devotion by Anne Johnston
1 Comment
Thank you for this commentary. Although we have seen our children stray away from God in varying degrees, they are all currently serving him and involved in ministry. Never stop praying for your children, whether young adults or as they get older. God‘s promises are true and everlasting.