Skip to main content

As for me and my house...

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15 NIV

This selection of scripture has been one I would consider a favorite.  The older I've gotten the more pleasure I take in it. Becoming a husband it began to be more impactful. As I became a father it meant even more. There is something about declaring your home for God.  Joshua does it in such a powerful way. 

This chapter in the book of Joshua documents Joshua's final charge to the people of Israel. After this exchange, he will pass away at the age of 110 years old. At this time , he is asking the people of Israel to renew their covenant with God. This agreement is their declaration as God as their Lord, and not some other god or some king.  

I find myself envisioning Joshua standing before this massive crowd. Addressing them in a way that a WWE wrestler might antagonize their opponent.  Trying to get to the inner core of the person with words that may rattle them to action.  

Then I realize this is a 110 year old man.  He is not a young man simply saying, "Me and my couple of young kids who can't decide for them selves will follow God." Instead he is saying, "I've lived my life and I know that my ancestors will follow God.". His statement is generational. It's a declaration that his immediate family, their children, and their children, and their children will serve God.  He will be their Lord and master. His allegiance and his family's allegiance is to the one true God, I am. 

Decide today who or what you will serve.  Will you serve fame, or power, or money? Will it be the world's definition of success? Or will you serve a God whose grace covers each and everyone of us. A God who sent His son to walk this earth and pay the price required to restore each of us in His Kingdom. 

If you choose God, then ask yourself, "what does that look like in my life? If I declare my house to serve God, what must my walk on this earth look like?

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do the Work

Sometimes I sit down to write and it just seems like I am trying to write with a pen without ink. There is simply nothing productive coming from the activity. Other times, God just pours it out on me. The ideas flow and the message comes together with ease. More often than not it's the former rather than the latter. It seems God likes to make us work for it. The ones I have to work a bit harder on become the ones I like the most. I think we appreciate the things we have to work for more than the things that come easy. Our LifeGroup recently read about the Miraculous Catch of Fish. You know the story where Peter and his buddies have been out fishing all night and came back to shore completely empty handed. That next morning, Jesus asks them to take him out in the boat. Once out on the water, He has them put the nets back down and they bring in loads and loads of fish. So many fish that two boats almost sank.  I guess Jesus could have just made the fish jump into th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Anchor House Week 4: Strawberries

This week I had the chance to come through on a promise I made to one of our regular ships. When they were in port last we were hanging out in the break room with the crew. Somehow we got on the subject of strawberries, Florida strawberries of course. I made the bold statement that Florida strawberries were the best. Trish followed up by clarifying that Plant City’s are the best. She had a point that is hard to argue with. In the discussion, I told the seafarer that I would bring them some strawberries next time they were at Port Manatee. Sure enough the next time they were in port I ran to Detweillers, first thing in the morning, and picked up a half of a flat of some of the most beautiful strawberries you've ever seen. They were big, red, perfectly placed in the container in a neat and orderly fashion. They looked magnificent. As we approached the ship, the seafarer whom I had made the promise to waved and said, “You remembered!” After we boarded the ship, we t...
Post a Comment
Read more