Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
FAMILY — A SANCTUARY OF COVENANT
Joshua 24:14-15
"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Joshua 24:14-15
"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
The last chapter of the book of Joshua, chapter 24, concludes the life and reign of Joshua. In this chapter we read about the great care and pains Joshua took to confirm the people of Israel in the true faith and worship of God, that they might, after his death, persevere in that faith. He therefore charges them to serve God, and wants them to make religion their deliberate choice; and to do so with solid reasons for their choice, and be determined to adhere to their choice as a covenant. He then commits himself and his household into the covenant to serve the Lord.
We live in a world where so much change is happening around us. One such entity that is experiencing considerable change in its structure and function is the family. Most of us continue to envision an ideal family as one that is made up of a loving and loyal husband and wife with loving and faithful children. Yet, we know that that image of a family may no longer exist for many families in our society. The family is also generally considered a safe sanctuary where its members feel protected from predators and persecutors. Here again, we live in a society where there is no guarantee that the family is a safe place for all that live in it.
Although we are not entirely sure of the make-up of the other families that lived in Joshua's time, we know that Joshua was a confident leader and a committed family man. He had the courage and authoritative leadership to commit himself and his entire household into a covenant relationship with God to serve Him in fear, reverence and faithfulness.
Let us meditate and evaluate the nature and characteristics of our families and our roles in them. Irrespective of whether we envision our family as a traditional or nontraditional family, let us reexamine the state of our covenant with the Lord. Irrespective of our individual roles within our families, do we have the confidence to commit not only ourselves but our entire household to serve the Lord? If not, what can we do to make it so? Just like the people of Israel, the Lord has led us into a land with so many prospects and promises. It is time for us to recommit to that covenant to serve our God who has led us this far. It is through Jesus Christ that we see the God whom we serve. Let us serve Him well.
We live in a world where so much change is happening around us. One such entity that is experiencing considerable change in its structure and function is the family. Most of us continue to envision an ideal family as one that is made up of a loving and loyal husband and wife with loving and faithful children. Yet, we know that that image of a family may no longer exist for many families in our society. The family is also generally considered a safe sanctuary where its members feel protected from predators and persecutors. Here again, we live in a society where there is no guarantee that the family is a safe place for all that live in it.
Although we are not entirely sure of the make-up of the other families that lived in Joshua's time, we know that Joshua was a confident leader and a committed family man. He had the courage and authoritative leadership to commit himself and his entire household into a covenant relationship with God to serve Him in fear, reverence and faithfulness.
Let us meditate and evaluate the nature and characteristics of our families and our roles in them. Irrespective of whether we envision our family as a traditional or nontraditional family, let us reexamine the state of our covenant with the Lord. Irrespective of our individual roles within our families, do we have the confidence to commit not only ourselves but our entire household to serve the Lord? If not, what can we do to make it so? Just like the people of Israel, the Lord has led us into a land with so many prospects and promises. It is time for us to recommit to that covenant to serve our God who has led us this far. It is through Jesus Christ that we see the God whom we serve. Let us serve Him well.
Prayer:
Dear God, as pilgrims through this world, marching on to Your celestial city, empower each one of us to recommit our covenant to serve You in honesty and in truth and make our families as a sanctuary of that covenant. Amen
Dear God, as pilgrims through this world, marching on to Your celestial city, empower each one of us to recommit our covenant to serve You in honesty and in truth and make our families as a sanctuary of that covenant. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Every Church is a Family and every Family is a small Church.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church