7 March | EVERYONE
«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.» Joshua 24:15
This passage portrays the climax of Joshua’s experience and of the book that bears his name. In his farewell address at the end of his life, the leader whom God had raised up for the people of Israel makes an invitation. At the same time, he reaffirms his unwavering commitment to serve the Lord together with his household.
You cannot serve two masters. Jesus himself said so centuries later. The person who longs to follow God but does not surrender completely to Him and put Him first will never enjoy an experience of faith and victories like Joshua had. Joshua chose to serve God. Not only he, but he took his entire family with him.
Satan is working hard in our day to attack and destroy the family. He does this in different ways: by minimizing the importance of marriage and creating the idea that it is no longer necessary; leading members of a family to spend their time on secular matters; allowing parents to be busy with their jobs without being able to devote quality time to their children; and producing spiritual lukewarmness by ensuring that worships and moments of devotion are not celebrated in the family, among other things.
Joshua, though busy leading and guiding the people of Israel, did not neglect his spiritual life and his relationship with God. He also did not stop ministering to his family as a priest and spiritual leader of his home. Joshua is an example of consistency and someone who sought to bring salvation to others, but without forgetting that his most important mission and responsibility was to bring it to his family in the first place. May the Lord help you to be like Joshua and to be able to say, “My house and I will serve the Lord.”
Take Action
This can be your prayer: “Help me, Lord, to know you better every day. Clothe me with your power to be a channel of salvation to those close to me. Amen!” Sing “We Will Serve the Lord” (if possible, with your family).