Joshua 24:15
“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.”
The best family is the family that serves the LORD together. The strongest family is the family the serves the LORD. The closest family is the family that serves the LORD. The common denominator for an enjoyable and close family life is making the LORD the centerpiece of all that you do.
When Joshua presented the choice for Israel to serve the LORD or to serve the gods of the Amorites, he made it very clear what he and his family were going to do. It was not a business meeting to decide what they were going to do, but it was a declaration to those around him and his family that they were going to serve the LORD together.
When it comes to your family, you must not give them options about what life you are going to live. Joshua said, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” He made it clear what they were going to do. He didn’t leave any doubt what they were going to do as a family. If you want your family to be happy and serve the LORD, then you must make it clear to all that serving the LORD is the life you are going to live. If you waffle on whether or not you are going to serve the LORD, then your children will make that decision for you. Every father must make it clear to his wife and children that their home is going to be a home that serves the LORD.
Moreover, you must make it clear that you are serving the LORD together. One of the mistakes I see in our homes is that the parents serve the LORD, but they leave the children at home. Make it a family affair to serve the LORD. It can’t be the parents sending the children to serve the LORD while they sit at home, nor can it be the children sitting at home while the parents serve the LORD. It must be something that is done together.
Furthermore, you must make it clear on a daily basis that you are going to serve the LORD. I have found that one of the best ways to make this happen is to make sure everyone has spent time reading the Scriptures. Don’t be afraid to ask your spouse and children if they have read the Scriptures that day. Serving the LORD is a daily choice. All it takes is for one day of not serving the LORD before it becomes a lifestyle.
Finally, make your direction clear to everyone that you are serving the LORD. Joshua didn’t make this declaration in private, but he made this declaration known to all. It was a clear directional choice what they were going to do. When you see something that you should not do, then remind your family that you are a Christian family and that Christians don’t do those types of things. Your family needs to understand that serving the LORD isn’t just a passing fad that you are going to do today, but they need to understand that this is what you are going to do for the remainder of your lives.
Friend, have you made the declaration to serve the LORD today and for the rest of your life? It must be clear to all that you are going to serve Him. There can be no other option but serving the LORD. I challenge you today to make serving the LORD your choice for today and forever.