(Week 10 of 2024)
A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver [Proverbs 25v11]
In the Book that bears his name Joshua issues a challenge to the people whom he had led into the Promised Land: “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.” from Joshua 24v15. The chief of the pagan gods was Baal who was the god of fertility and rain, so by extension, the god of prosperity. All of us must decide in this secular and material society of 2024 whether we choose the god of this world namely prosperity – or the Lord. It is a choice that determines the well-being of our eternal soul and also those who live in our home and for whom we have responsibility. This does not mean that everyone in our home will become a committed Christian, but whilst they reside under our roof our responsibility is to be the spiritual head and instil our faith into their lives. Once they leave home their relationship with the Lord is their choice as we read in Proverbs 22v6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it”. This is not a guarantee they will surrender their lives to Christ, but emphasises the fact that parents need to start the faith walk of their families by being diligent in testifying to the reality of their faith not just in talk, but also in their walk. Children when they are old enough to make their own choice will always have that knowledge as long as they live. Parents, we have been blessed with offspring lent to us by God so let us be zealous in leading our household in serving the Lord – there is no greater gift to children than to see parents wholeheartedly serving the Lord not because they have to, but because they have experienced God’s love in their lives and as a result want to serve Him wholeheartedly. In conclusion, I leave with you the prayer of St Richard of Chichester of 800 years ago which is still relevant for us: “Day by day, dear Lord, of Thee three things I pray: to see Thee more clearly, to love Thee more dearly and to follow Thee more nearly – day by day”.
Amen,
Graeme Greenwood