Go make disciples: Me and my house ...

In Joshua 24:15 we read “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” We have already talked about the aspect of demolishing strongholds of the mind in the “me,” part of this verse. Also with respect to “me,” we have been talking about the inward, upward and outward journeys. I want to add this morning, that if we are to be His “disciples indeed” (John 8:31 NKJV), we will need include traditional discipleship, such as taking up the disciplines of Scripture reading, fostering intimacy in quiet times with God, and one I am still struggling with, taking Sabbath rest (Mark 2:27). Holistic discipleship is a trinity of journeys (inward, upward and outward), and much of this blog has been about the inward journey (inner healing). But if we are to do discipleship holistically, we also need to utilize the interconnections, working the three journeys together in various periods of emphasis. We are made for community, and though I may need periods alone in the end, I cannot do the “me” part of discipleship in isolation. In fact, the command to go make disciples emphasizes the outward journey, and that needs to start at, or close to, home.

And Joshua is telling us in the phrase “and my house, ” that he takes responsibility for his house, for his family, for his immediate circles of influence. In this post Christian culture, we can no longer rely on the media and/or the schools neither to teach our children what they need to know, nor that they will teach them what is true. In some schools, for example, experimentation with sexuality is encouraged, and children are being told that they can choose their gender, which surly encourages gender dysphoria. With respect to the media, fifty Fifty years ago through stories and other means, programs often taught family and traditional values, integrity and life lessons. No longer, it all about “me!” The Biblical antidote comes in admonitions to teach the Lord's precepts and commandments “diligently to your children, you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

But you might ask “What if our children don't want to follow the Lord?” The verse “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV) comes to mind. “But what if it's too late?” I like the illustration of the oxygen masks coming down in the plane. You put yours on first, before you help others. When children are no longer under our influence, the very best thing we can do for them, is to show the way to freedom by being radically transformed as we follow hard after Him in discipleship. Another question “What if he or she didn't follow even after I did my best?” Same thing really, but we also declare Joshua 24:15 in faith, as a promise that when he is old he will not depart from “the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Father, You Word tells us that in many things we all fail (James 3:2). Which one of us when are children are grown can look back and say we made no mistakes? Not me for sure! Help us to admit our mistakes and apologize where it is necessary and Lord please give them grace to forgive us, and draw each one close to You in Jesus Name Amen