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But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.

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loretta:

Joshua 24:15   But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.

While posting my 10 best scriptures recently, I was reminded of this one, which used to be my favorite one when I was first converted about a decade ago.  I smile when I think about it.  I had all these ministry ideas in my head for myself and my family and I worked towards achieving my goals!  Needless to say, all was vanity and did surely put off several people.  It is common to see full households, even generations of households serving the Lord in Christendom. If this is a lie, then what is the truth?  Does God chose only few out of a single household? What then is the spiritual truth of Joshua 24:15?  Under the new covenant, does household refer to the family of God, after the spirit rather than the flesh.

What is the reality here on BT forum? Does this change the way we raise our kids?  Not that it makes any difference I can see, because kids will grow up the way God determines they should!  In a way it is a sweet freedom, to know that we are not responsible (are we?) for the spiritual make-up of our children. That God will be ALL in all.

Dave in Tenn:
I think parents (and bible-readers in general) sometimes tend to forget that every generation has to "hear and do" the will of God.  Raising kids in a household that believes the great truths of God, seems to me as a non-parent who was largely raised by school, church and television, to be a great privilege and responsibility, taken on with the fruit of the Spirit in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Long-Suffering, etc.

Believing as we do does not mean we throw our kids into the woods and let "god" raise them.  I do think it means that "we" raise them, but differently. 

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3720.0.html  Maybe that is a good starting "primer".

There ARE consequences of our actions and lack-of-action.  Children certainly need to learn this, and as much as possible learn to live decently and grow in wisdom. 

I'll leave off any theological comment about what this or that verse might "mean".  I'll just say that "we SHALL" serve the Lord, and its not wrong to "fear and tremble" or teach kids to...it's wrong to instill hopelessness, hypocrisy, and that other "H" word so many of us were raised on.  Soon enough, they will be the one's whom God is working in and through to do His good pleasure, though when the time comes, it may not be exactly YOUR good pleasure every step of the way.

Maybe that's a bit helpful.

Kat:

Hi Loretta,

Joshua 24:15   But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.


--- Quote ---Does God chose only few out of a single household? What then is the spiritual truth of Joshua 24:15?
--- End quote ---

As head of his household wasn't Joshua commanded to teach his family the truths of God.

Deu 6:4  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
v. 5  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
v. 6  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
v. 7  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Psa 78:4  We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.
v. 5  He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

Yes I do believe that there are only a very few being called out and chosen, I think each individual should feel an extreme degree of thankfulness that our eyes have been opened to the truth. I don't see this calling as a matter of bringing whole families to conversion right now, but individuals. Not saying that more than one in a family cannot have their eyes opened, but from those believers I have known it just doesn't seem to be the way of it right now.

But when somebody's eyes are opened and they have been shown the light, shouldn't that be reflected on all those around them, certainly our children? I mean it is one thing to preach what we believe to family, children or friends, usually not very productive either, but we can let our light shine through example and our children/family/friends, even work associates can see Christ in us by our living a godly life, that could really make an impression, as Paul expounded us to do.

Col 3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
v.13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
v. 14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
v. 15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
v. 16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
v. 17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

What I find is that I can 'teach' God's truth all the time without anybody even knowing it... as Deu. 6:7 says to teach your children "when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise," I think that means that most everything you do and say can be a teaching lesson. We know our children watch us and our example speaks louder than any words, that holds true for the rest of our family and our friends as well. Just be a living example, let them see your light shine as your testimony to the truth. Then if they come to you for advice, you can have a much greater influence, because they respect you already.

Mat 5:13  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
v. 14  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
v. 15  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
v. 16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

 

onelovedread:
Hi Loretta:
Do you think it's significant that should you carry out a survey on members of this forum, that you'd find that most if not all members are the only one in their (our) household that God has called out and who accept the truth of the scriptures (which He has used Ray to help us come into)?

lilitalienboi16:
I am currently involved in the life of a three year old baby girl and blessed with the great responsibility of being called "Daddy."

Her great grandmother is a rather vulgar person and uses the Lord's name in vein very often. I often times find myself telling this little girl, "it's GOSH darnit" not "God............." well, you know how that one ends. It's difficult and she is absolutely innocent and knows little about the implications of such statement but nevertheless, its the little things. You have to start small, I think... I don't know much about this whole parenting business and I'm far from being where I want to be spiritually so sometimes It is a bit scary: To see how much someone can look up to you and trying to raise them and "train them in the way that they shall not depart from."

There is great comfort though and assurance knowing that the Lord is fully in control. My prayer for this girl, my daughter, is that the Lord bless her with a knowledge of Himself that I may never have the benefit of knowing. That He give her in ample abundance the goodness I yearn and struggle for myself. That He watch over her in a manner such that a physical fleshy father never could.

One of the things I have told myself I will not do, is shove my beliefs down the throats of others including my daughter. I will lead by example as the grace of God permits. I pray that in this manner, God will lead her as he led me unto Him and when she is ready to ask me, that I will have the answers for her.

A light on a hill is all we can do and live quietly, peaceably, with love and example for all those in our lives to see.

Anyways, that is how I start, that is what I do, with the little things. Humble beginnings I suppose.

Its challenging and when its all said and done, I have a feeling I'll be the one whom God is "training up" too.

Great thread though, thanks for the thoughts.

Alex

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