Week of Monday, April 25 – Sunday, May 1
As for Me – Man as Provider
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24: 14-15 ESV
On March 23, 1775, the Second Virginia Convention had convened at what is now St. John’s Church in Richmond. They had assembled to consider some weighty matters concerning the British tyranny and oppression of the King of England. A 39-year-old delegate from Hanover County took a seat in the church with the others. He listened as many of his limp-wristed colleagues babbled on and on in favor of continued conciliatory measures and more pleading with Parliament. The longer he listened, the more his righteous indignation increased. Finally, this fiery country lawyer rose from his pew to address the wavering assembly of Virginians. His soaring speech reached its climax when he declared:
“What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me [Josh. 24:15], give me liberty or give me death!”[1]
There it is: “As for me!” When Patrick Henry finished laying out the choice between slavery and liberty, in a speech literally laced with biblical language, he concluded his argument just like Joshua: “As for me!” We all know the rest of that story. At that climactic moment, the call rang out in response: “To arms!” And that speech helped fan the flames of Revolution, and within less than a month, the first shots were fired in the War for Independence.
Imagine Joshua, “God’s General,” having convened the tribes of Israel at Shechem for his farewell address. He had challenged them to worship only the one true God. He laid out the choice. He made clear the consequences. He called for commitment. Now he is planting his flag. You can almost see him, his eyes flashing with fire, raising his voice with a shout: “As for me!” Like the courageous Reformer Martin Luther declared: “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God!”
Joshua as Provider sets the example. Then he includes his kin: “As for me and my house.” When we put up a wall hanging that declares: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” in our homes today, we are proclaiming very much the same thing Joshua did. The only difference is that a husband and father is probably thinking more of his immediate family, those who live “under his roof” than his extended kin as in the case of Joshua.
Men, we have a solemn responsibility to make sure what goes on in the home honors God and the kind of lifestyle laid out in his word and modeled by Jesus. Obviously, we can have more say on the external actions and activities than we can over the thoughts and intents of the heart. We can’t dictate how our wife and kids feel, believe, and desire. The best we can do is communicate expectations, provide a winsome and loving example, and pray for the Spirit of God to do only what he can do in their hearts. But don’t for one minute think our leadership by example doesn’t matter. It does!
When he made his declaration: “But as for me and my house,” Joshua understood that his leadership would profoundly affect those he loved, cared for, and led spiritually. We need to do the same. By God’s grace, such a declaration may provide blessing to your family for generations to come.
[1] William Wirt, Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry (Philadelphia: James Webster, 1817), 120–23. Bracketed items added.
As for Me – Man as Provider
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24: 14-15 ESV
On March 23, 1775, the Second Virginia Convention had convened at what is now St. John’s Church in Richmond. They had assembled to consider some weighty matters concerning the British tyranny and oppression of the King of England. A 39-year-old delegate from Hanover County took a seat in the church with the others. He listened as many of his limp-wristed colleagues babbled on and on in favor of continued conciliatory measures and more pleading with Parliament. The longer he listened, the more his righteous indignation increased. Finally, this fiery country lawyer rose from his pew to address the wavering assembly of Virginians. His soaring speech reached its climax when he declared:
“What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me [Josh. 24:15], give me liberty or give me death!”[1]
There it is: “As for me!” When Patrick Henry finished laying out the choice between slavery and liberty, in a speech literally laced with biblical language, he concluded his argument just like Joshua: “As for me!” We all know the rest of that story. At that climactic moment, the call rang out in response: “To arms!” And that speech helped fan the flames of Revolution, and within less than a month, the first shots were fired in the War for Independence.
Imagine Joshua, “God’s General,” having convened the tribes of Israel at Shechem for his farewell address. He had challenged them to worship only the one true God. He laid out the choice. He made clear the consequences. He called for commitment. Now he is planting his flag. You can almost see him, his eyes flashing with fire, raising his voice with a shout: “As for me!” Like the courageous Reformer Martin Luther declared: “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God!”
Joshua as Provider sets the example. Then he includes his kin: “As for me and my house.” When we put up a wall hanging that declares: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” in our homes today, we are proclaiming very much the same thing Joshua did. The only difference is that a husband and father is probably thinking more of his immediate family, those who live “under his roof” than his extended kin as in the case of Joshua.
Men, we have a solemn responsibility to make sure what goes on in the home honors God and the kind of lifestyle laid out in his word and modeled by Jesus. Obviously, we can have more say on the external actions and activities than we can over the thoughts and intents of the heart. We can’t dictate how our wife and kids feel, believe, and desire. The best we can do is communicate expectations, provide a winsome and loving example, and pray for the Spirit of God to do only what he can do in their hearts. But don’t for one minute think our leadership by example doesn’t matter. It does!
When he made his declaration: “But as for me and my house,” Joshua understood that his leadership would profoundly affect those he loved, cared for, and led spiritually. We need to do the same. By God’s grace, such a declaration may provide blessing to your family for generations to come.
- How can you be more intentional in declaring your faith before your family? What are some practical ways that you can provide a winsome and loving example of “serving the Lord?”
- It has been said, the fruit of our lives grows on the trees of others. What kind of fruit is your example producing?
- Ask the Lord to show you the moments and give you the words to declare your allegiance to him and call on your family to follow your example.
[1] William Wirt, Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry (Philadelphia: James Webster, 1817), 120–23. Bracketed items added.