Serving the Lord as a Family

Brother Neff’s Collections – March 6, 2015

April 25, 2026

Joshua 24:15 …as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua gathered the people together just before his death for some final words of advice and warning.  He reminded the Israelites how the Lord had called and led this people, eventually bringing them back into Canaan. He then challenged them to fear the Lord and serve Him, while turning away from the gods of the world.  This man of God called them to make a decision on that day, whether to serve God or serve idols.

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”  This is a choice every person needs to make.  It is a real friend who encourages us to serve the Lord and live our lives for Him. We are all going to serve someone.  We will either serve the Lord by living for Him and obeying His Word, or we will serve the devil by living for self and following the idols of this world. Make that your choice for today, every day, and forever.  

Joshua then gave us his own words of resolve, and he had lived for God as few others, faithfully serving the Lord.  But in his final days, he expressed his intention that his family serve the Lord.

The decision to live for God is an individual decision.  We cannot make that choice for any other person, including the people that are the closest to us, the members of our family.  However, though we cannot decide for them, we certainly want to influence them to choose Christ as Saviour and give their lives to serving Him. Children need to see that their parents love the Lord and serve Him sincerely.  Families especially need to see husbands and fathers who can say, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Reflection—Some feel a life lived for God is a bad choice, but to what do they compare it?