One of my favorite Bible verses is Joshua 24:15: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” I’ve had a plaque with it written on it on the door of our house for about 35 years and have given similar plaques of it to my children for their houses. It sums up what I stand for.
Joshua was the first to make this declaration. He had faithfully served as Moses’ assistant when leading the Jews out of Egypt. He was one of the two spies who encouraged the Jews to enter the Promised Land when the others were afraid of the giants (Numbers 13:6-8). After Moses’ death, Joshua led the next generation of Jews into the land of Canaan. He led their army to conquer the Promised Land and saw it settled by the 12 tribes. As his death approached he gathered the people together to encourage them to renew their covenant with God. As Moses had done with the previous generation, Joshua offered the people a choice – to serve the false gods of the nations they had conquered or to serve the Lord their God. The Jews claimed to follow God but their actions often showed the opposite. Joshua warned them of the danger in this. He took his stand for God (Joshua 24:14-15). The Israelites answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!” (Joshua 24:16). But despite their best intentions, they failed to keep their commitment. Future generations would fail as well. Joshua understood the holiness of God and how difficult it is for man to serve a holy God (Joshua 24:19), but also how important it is to do so.
We, too, are incapable of keeping the commands of that first covenant. But God knew we would fail, too. Paul explains that the old covenant has been given only as a ‘guardian’ to teach people the expectations until the Redeemer arrived (Galatians 3:24-29). Jesus alone was capable of keeping the old covenant, the Law. In fact, He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-18). And by fulfilling the Law, He made it obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Its purpose had been fulfilled so it was no longer needed. Jesus offered a new way – a new covenant. This new one was not impossible for men to keep. He blessed us with mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:4-10). Salvation is a free gift because Jesus did the hard work. All we do is accept His gift. It’s all about our heart attitude to Him and His gift. There is nothing we do to earn or deserve salvation. The Jews went through the outer motions but their heart was far from God (Isaiah 29:13). God looks at our hearts. What does He see in your heart?
In Joshua’s time, the head of the house carried the responsibility for leading his family in the way God wanted them to go. Joshua asserted his faith was in God Almighty alone, and not in any of the false gods that others around the Jews worshiped. There are many false gods today which people turn to in order to have their needs met: materialism, popularity, power, relationships with others, government provision, sex, food, etc., etc., etc. Parents, fathers and mothers, are responsible to make sure their family and home honors God. That means more than just in external actions, but in our inner feelings and beliefs. We are to instill in any who are part of our family a desire to love the Lord and serve Him with all of our actions, thoughts and emotions.
Jesus calls those who follow Him to abide in Him and to obey His words. Many today claim the designation ‘Christian’ because of church membership or cultural activities they partake in. But only those who have committed their hearts to Christ have been given that right. “To all who received Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Joshua recognized this and publicly proclaimed His commitment to serving God and no one else. He openly committed to leading his family in that same way. He was setting an example to all. He couldn’t force others to follow his example, but he could and did state what was in his heart. We need to do the same thing. I don’t mean just by putting a copy of his words on our door or in our home, but in how we live and act. Jesus is the only way (John 14:6). Hypocrisy falls short. Joshua’s challenge put them on the spot. Each would have to make a mental decision to do as he did or not. They could not walk away without agreeing or disagreeing.
There is no middle ground. Those who are lukewarm will be spit out (Revelation 3:16). Joshua made his commitment clear for all to know. Today, some 3,600 years later, we are called to do the same. So, choose this day, whom will you serve?
Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 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 will serve the Lord.”
Who are you serving?
Would God agree with you?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India & Africa Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
Copyright © 2025