Joshua 24:15 “…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”

“Take a look at what I found under our son’s mattress!” Marge said holding up a magazine in front of Derek her husband. Distress and confusion was written on her face as she displayed a Pornographic magazine cover. Derek looked up from his study desk where he was working on his computer and grabbed hold of the magazine… quickly leafing through the pages. Exasperated, he placed it on the desk, and wondered how, despite speaking to his son countless times about the dangers of exposure to pornography, their teenage boy would still have the audacity to secretely indulge in such a magazine.

“Where could he have gotten that from?” Derek asked. “I don’t know!” Marge replied, “Most likely from his teenage friends at school.”

It’s usually one of those dreaded moments for parents when you have to confront your child on their moments of sexual curiosity. It’s a thorny subject indeed, but one that every Christian parent should boldly address with their child using God’s word as a standard, rather than let the world define sexuality to your child.

At a truly defining moment in Israel’s history, Joshua led the Israelites in renewing their covenant relationship with God. Against a backdrop of years of unfaithfulness, which led the Israelites to worship other gods and engage in the detestable practices of the surrounding nations (despite God’s faithfulness), Joshua charged them to make a decision on whom they would serve. Whatever their decision, Joshua was firm in his resolve, that he and his household would serve the Lord!

Like Joshua, we are called today to make that same declaration of faith that our family will serve the Lord! Serving the Lord is synonymous with being completely sold out to God – making His Word the Core-guiding principle for our families. It means that we will practice and teach the word of God to our children everyday.

Well, just like Derek and Marge in the illustration above, you might not have full control on your children’s decisions throughout their life. Nonetheless, you must make every effort to instill Godly values in them daily, and by faith believe God that they will turn out alright. 

Prayerfully make a Faith declaration today that your family is sold out to God, then daily model those same values to your children by how you live your life, by what you speak, and by what you watch on TV (or allow to be watched on TV).