Walking through the garage door entranceway into my kitchen happens very frequently throughout my normal day. However, on this day, I actually paid attention to a sign that was hanging right beside the door.
Oh, it has been there for a very long time. But, I cannot remember noticing it at all in what has probably been more than a year. Not even once.
The words on that sign: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
When I finally did notice it, it somehow left me feeling — well — not very spiritual.
I am leaning toward thinking that maybe — just maybe — I had been a bit too busy when hurrying in and out of that door, if a year had gone by without that verse grabbing my attention — and speaking to my heart.
Sometimes, I may — just may — have a tendency to let the ‘stuff’ in my life get in the way of my spiritual growth — and potentially the spiritual growth of my family.
Maybe — just maybe — many of us do.
Joshua was 110 years old when he spoke those words in Joshua 24:15. Words that are now often hanging in homes — or even painted on walls of homes.
He was probably quite busy himself during his life. Moses had selected him to be his assistant and was training him to become his successor. Joshua became effective in leadership and strong in his faith — and he stuck with it — leading, training, and spreading his spiritual influence and faith to others, as he was on the threshold of leading more than two million people into the Promised Land.
During this challenging time, the Lord spoke these words to him in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
I’ll bet those words were a ‘sign’ on Joshua’s heart that he didn’t ignore for over a year! He probably woke up every morning, saying, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go.” He probably made sure he had God’s Word on the doorposts of his home, hidden in his heart, and spoke it often everywhere he went.
I know — I should not be so hard on myself, right? It was just a sign on a wall. Hey, I’m busy. But, it came as a right-on-time reminder that I need to be sure to keep the main thing the main thing — and not let ‘stuff’ get in the way.
Life is passing by and we will be 110 before we know it. We sure don’t want to be so busy with our stuff — even if it is good stuff — that we fail to let the “God stuff” be front and center in our lives and in our home.
There is no greater role in our lifetime — whether age 10 or 110 — than for us — and our house — to serve the Lord.
Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com