Daniel Fast- Called to Fight Until Victoryናሙና

Day 15: Serving with Your Family

“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.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24; Ephesians 1; Colossians 3

As Joshua concludes his ministry, he calls each family of Israel to choose whom they will serve: the Lord, their fathers' gods, or the gods of nations from the land they have inherited from God. Israel made a third covenant with God upon exiting Egypt - they chose the Lord God to serve Him and obey His voice.

Just as then, today, there is a battle between the gods of this world and the one God for the hearts of people who have the choice of whom to attach to, whom to look up to, and whom to serve. We are constantly surrounded by many gods who fight for our time and attention, determining our direction in life. We witness the gods our ancestors served and the gods surrounding us today, inviting the current generation to choose in their favor.

God has designed us with forward-facing eyes, implying that our natural direction is towards what lies ahead. Attempting to walk backward not only feels awkward but also proves perilous and nearly impossible. The path becomes fraught with obstacles, leading to inevitable stumbles.

That's why when we walk, we look ahead to see where we are going. We need to see the road or path and move forward quickly, avoiding all obstacles.

It's essential to remember a seemingly simple yet profound principle: "Where we look, there we go." This principle holds true not just in small instances but can significantly impact our entire lives. Life, essentially, is a journey. In this journey, the direction of our gaze holds immense importance because it determines the path we, our children, and our loved ones tread. What we focus on is where we find ourselves heading.

Conversely, where we choose not to look is where we avoid going. If our attention fixates on the impure, negative, evil, dark, or sinful aspects, straying away from what glorifies God, we inevitably find ourselves on those undesirable paths, distancing from God's presence. Our location in life often aligns with the focal point of our attention.

Ephesians directs the focus of God's beloved children towards heavenly themes such as divine election, redemption through Christ, and the promise of a heavenly position. The ultimate aspiration at the culmination of our earthly journey is to be in the heavenly kingdom. The profound truth lies in the idea that those actively seeking God's kingdom and righteousness today are on a continuous path toward heaven. Their journey leads to the glorious presence of God, where they will share in Christ's throne. The Bible consistently encourages us to shift our gaze heavenward, contemplating things that are pure, just, true, pleasant, honorable, noble, and virtuous. The Lord desires our thoughts to be centered on Him and the well-being of others. This deliberate focus not only shapes our thinking but also prompts corresponding actions.

When Jesus ascended from the earthly realm, He left His devoted disciples with the Great Commission, expecting to find them faithfully carrying out His command upon His return. The essence of His directive is that we, along with our children and loved ones, would be filled with the power from on high—the Holy Spirit. The mission extends to being witnesses in various spheres: from our homes and families to neighbors, acquaintances, our city, country, and even to the farthest reaches of the earth, all under the empowering influence of the Holy Spirit.

In contemporary times, we encounter families profoundly ignited by these words of Jesus. Their daily thoughts revolve around this commission, shaping their mindset, guiding their actions, and leading them to invest time, finances, and energy. Many families willingly embrace the call to become missionary families, embracing servant leadership roles dedicated to expanding and building His kingdom. Such a commitment is not without challenges, as it often necessitates saying "no" to various desires, moods, and pleasures, accompanied by significant sacrifices and humble lifestyles.

In our present reality, we coexist with idols and false gods that exert control over people through avenues such as sex, money, power, and influence. The landscape is fraught with traps and snares designed to ensnare souls. A relentless flow of information bombards us, resembling an avalanche that diverts many souls from the true path. People become enthusiasts of trivial and harmful pursuits, spending considerable time on social networks and easily accessible entertainment.

Let us be careful to live and move in the direction of our true and heavenly calling. Let us abide in the things that leads us to God and not giving room for what leads us or our families in the opposite direction.

«On this Divine mission, we are all missionaries. Disciples of Jesus live a mission-shaped life. Every life is a missionary life. Every marriage is a missionary marriage. Every vocation is a missionary vocation. We’re all here on assignment!»

Reflection Questions:

1. How often do we encourage our children and loved ones to look intently to the heights of heaven and ponder God’s Kingdom?

2. Do you focus your gaze on Christ? On heaven?

3. Are you focused on your election and calling? How?

4. What do you do during the week that encourages you to head in the direction of heaven?

5. What do you need to reject and change in your daily life to ensure you live according to your call to serve the Lord?

6. Do we function as God's firefighters, diligently extinguishing the flames of discord at any expense, or do we embody malevolent, contentious instigators of conflict and strife?

Prayer:

1. For families of leaders, disciple-makers, pastors, etc.
2. That there would be millions of ‘families on mission” around the world.
3. For the Pacific Big Region – may they see the multiplication of teams and disciples in the world of sport, play, and fitness.