The end of Joshua 24:15 says, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua is asking the people to make a difficult and stark choice as to whom they will follow. We all answer that call and make that choice in life. Thank you Jesus for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which guides us in choices daily. What is of note in Joshua's declarative is the inclusion of his family; it reminds me of the promise that Paul and Silas made to the jailer in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."I have two beautiful and funny children, pictured above. I am not saying that my choices guarantee their salvation nor do I believe that the bad choices I have made and will make permanently impede the progress of their lives. What is clear to me is the ripple effect of my free will, especially upon those close to me. As for me, I will serve the Lord; imperfectly of course because I have a weakness of flesh that God has yet to strip away. I try to make choices that honor Him because He deserves it; not for fear of future condemnation but simply to make Him smile.
All the while I stand on God's promise to guard what I have entrusted to Him, that being my salvation but also my children. I am thankful for the residual benefit due to my children because of the work God has done in my life. Acts 1:8 holds the message of concentric ministry. First deal with Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then the ends of the earth. I don't do this as well as I should but I am trying and I encourage you to try as well to minister to your Jerusalem (family and close friends) before you stretch out to the ends of the earth. Through this, I believe that I can stand on Paul and Silas' promise that my household and I will be saved.
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