“As for Me and My House We Will” (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”
I’ve read that Scripture many times. However, this time those two words “we will” just popped out at me.
In reflecting further, the following points come to mind:
- The inclusiveness of the entire family is obvious in this Scripture; cannot be denied or skipped over.
- Ministry is a family thing. It is inescapable. It’s my calling. It’s our calling.
- Ministry is best done in community.
- So goes the family; so goes the church.
- So goes the family; so goes the nation.
- The family is the church in miniature.
- If Momma ain’t happy, no one is happy.
- If the children ain’t happy, no one is happy.
- The leader’s family is the example for others to follow and emulate. You can’t bypass that.
- It only takes failure to pass truth on to one generation to bring about apostolic extinction in that family rather than apostolic succession.
- Some see family and ministry as a vertical arrangement: Priorities, in order of, God first, family second, the church last. At least that is an attempt to prioritize and a step in the right direction.
- However, consider the possibility that it is a spiral, inseparable, circular arrangement with God at the center of all we are, ever hope to be, and all we do, and ever hope to do. From that relationship with God spirals my marriage, my family, my ministry.
In research for this, I went to her my daughter’s blog to check on a posting where she said something about “Daddy.” Google popped up with her latest blog post. It hit me smack in the face and pierced my heart. She was writing on the very subject I am addressing right now. Here goes:
And it was said in Acts 16 – believe and you’ll be saved. You and your house. And after days and days of news piled on news, it turns out that that’s what finally made me cry.
House. He didn’t mean the architecture of brick piled on stone. Not the building you live in but the loves in your life. By “house” he meant “your people.” And for so many years, my people? They’ve been the only home I really have. And I can barely see to write this because there is so much sickness in my house. Failing kidneys and tumors and rumors of cancer and hearts ripped right open.
In. My. House.
Speaking of houses, what did He say of His? “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”
So I do what we all should. I endeavor to model my house after His. And I remind myself daily that ”
The life of the flesh is in the blood.” Life. Not cancer. Life.
That He said in the Psalms flesh and hearts fail but that He is the strength of hearts and a portion forever.
That straps of whip sliced open His back so that right before He secured our tomorrow blood flowed to offer healing in our today.
That no matter what happens in our today our tomorrow is certain.
And I know that He can shrink tumors and balance equilibrium and restore kidneys and I place them all in everlasting arms connected to a back once stripped bloody. Because He is here and He heals.
And me and my house? We serve the Lord.
James Poitras 