As for Me and My House: A Call to Spiritual Leadership
- meetgodattheedgeof
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 24
Joshua 24:15-17
“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
What a powerful declaration of faith and commitment Joshua made. He challenged the Israelites to make a clear choice—worship the gods of the world or the Lord. And as we see, they chose the Lord and made a commitment too.
As a father, I’m met with this very same challenge. But it’s not as simple as just making a declaration. I have to be the example. My family won't naturally walk the path unless I lead them. My house is a house after God’s own design, and my wife and I do our best to live out our God-given roles so that our children have a living example of what that looks like. I thank God that my wife is wise, understanding, and faithful.
I’m charged with being the spiritual leader—what Scripture calls the high priest—of my household. At this stage, my children’s understanding of the Lord is directly influenced by mine. Soon enough, they’ll develop their own relationships with Him, but for now, the way I introduce them to God’s Word matters. What a responsibility. Wow.
Spiritual leadership in the home means I can’t just preach it - I have to live it. When I correct my children, my heart needs to be full of love. When I break up a fight, I must lead with peace and compassion. When I make decisions that impact the whole family, I must pray—and I need to let them see me pray.
That doesn’t just teach them that we pray—it shows them how to pray. It teaches them that our family turns to God first. This isn’t something that’s always explicitly taught, but it absolutely should be.
Knowing I’m always an example is both convicting and encouraging. It pushes me to do what’s right, not just because I’m a father, but because I’m a follower of Christ.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
This is more than a beautiful phrase to hang on the wall. This is a commitment. As the leader of my home, it’s on my shoulders to constantly be mindful of the example I’m setting. No one gets it right all the time—and that’s okay! It’s often in our missteps that the most meaningful lessons are learned. How I handle falling short will directly influence how my children handle their own shortcomings.
Nothing in life with the Lord is wasted. Every moment has purpose. Let every situation become a lesson in trust, grace, and growth. Pray through it. Lean on the Lord for strength and wisdom.
Now is the time for godly men to rise up and lead by example. Not perfectly. But faithfully.
Joshua 24:16–17 (NLT)
“The people replied, ‘We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.’”
