My House

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:15

Lately I have been reading excerpts from John Wesley's sermons in my devotions in the morning. This morning I was especially challenged by his words and the verse of his reflections, Joshua 24:15.

Who is my house? If I had a husband and children, then the answer would seem obvious, but today I started wondering if there could be more implied outside of my immediate family. What of those relationships and friends that you engage with for some period of time, be it long or short? For however long the period, aren't they committed to you in such a way as can be considered a part of our "house?"

My life has been separated into stages of 4 years: 4 years here, move, 4 more years, college, 4 more years graduate, etc. :) At each stage I've made relationships deep enough that I could easily consider them family in my heart and mind. But have I loved them enough to confidently say that through knowing me they saw the Lord? That through knowing me they saw what it meant to serve Him? As part of my "house," have I encouraged us to serve Him together? If I were to give an account to those in my care, would they be accounts of joy or of grief?

As for now, I think that my house extends further than even my friends, but I think that it especially includes the students entrusted in my care for 8 hours a day, 9 months of a year. May I consider them a part of my charge and encourage them to serve the Lord with everything they have and all they are.

"And it is not the will of your Master that these should go out of your hands before they receive from you something more valuable than silver or gold."
John Wesley