“But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship . . . As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” –Joshua 24:15
One of the earliest lessons I learned in competition was that no one came to our home field and defeated our team in front of our family and friends. It was always motivating to deny the visiting team victory on our turf. There’s something special about being the home team. Teams now have slogans like “Not in our house!” and “Not in our backyard!” There is a responsibility to secure and protect home-field advantage.
This is also true in life. God has given each of us special skills to accomplish the extraordinary in life. These gifts vary. Some people are great athletes while others are great speakers. Some are thin and fast while others are big and strong. Some are great planners—others, great performers. Our bodies, or houses, are fearfully and wonderfully made and must be protected. As Joshua said, “Choose whom you will serve . . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Who is the enemy and how do we protect our house? John 10:10 is clear that the thief, the Devil, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. When he sends temptations our way, we are to protect our house with character. Character says, “Not in my house! I will be faithful. No matter what the pressure or the influence, this house belongs to the Lord!”
1. What happened the last time you were tempted?
2. What are some slogans you can repeat to yourself as encouragement?
3. What have been the consequences of someone you know who failed to protect their house?
Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Lord, You say that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. You have given me specific abilities and skills because there is a specific purpose for my life. Help me not to compromise this purpose, but to stand firmly and resist anything that does not glorify You. Amen.
About the Author:
Steve Fitzhugh has been motivating and inspiring audiences with his own style of effective communication for over 25 years. Because of Steve’s expertise with youth, most of his time is spent on middle school, high school, and college campuses. He is currently the national spokesperson for FCA’s One Way 2 Play Drug-Free program and oversees an after-school teen drop-in center he co-founded in Southeast Washington, DC.
