Reading: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

There is something refreshing and inspiring about Joshua’s last message to the nation of Israel. 

His years as leader of the nation had been marked with numerous blessings and various battles and through them all he continued in devoted service to God. Joshua was a loyal soldier, a faithful spy, a dedicated statesman, and above all, a fervent servant of God. When he approached his final days there were many things on his mind, but pre-eminent among them was his desire that the nation would continue faithful to God.

It was in order to encourage such faithfulness that Joshua revealed where his loyalties lay. He spoke for himself and his family and declared that they would serve the Lord. Those heartfelt words were spoken as he approached the end of his life, but it is obvious that Joshua had lost none of his former zeal. He had carefully considered this matter and had determined that God was worthy to be honoured and served. He knew that the world had nothing and was nothing in comparison. Joshua was fully persuaded that it was right for him and a privilege for him to serve God with all of his strength to the end of his days.

This was a refreshing statement of public allegiance to God, and Joshua was in the happy position of being able to speak on behalf of his family. It is a tremendous blessing when a father can use these words of his entire household. Serving God as a family is a great honour and privilege. Satan seeks to destroy Christian homes. He is determined to bring disunity and spiritual carelessness into them. He would rather we served the world. Happy is the father who can join with Joshua and say with absolute certainty and with great clarity, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

“Where we have a tent God must have an altar.” Matthew Henry

Taken from A Word in Season edited by Alan Cairns, 2010. Used by permission.