The enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy—but Jesus came so that we may have life, and life more abundantly. That abundant life was never meant to be lived alone. It was meant to flow through our homes, our marriages, and our families.

Some of the greatest stories of Scripture come from the days of Joshua—days filled with
miracles, signs, and wonders. And yet, one of the most heartbreaking verses in the Bible follows his lifetime: “A generation grew up that neither knew the Lord nor worshiped Him.” How could this happen after all they had seen?

When Joshua stood before Jericho, he encountered the Commander of the Armies of the Lord. Joshua, full of zeal but lacking the right perspective, asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The answer came back: “Neither.” Joshua was reminded to remove his sandals, for the ground was holy. In their culture, sandals were often given with a deed to signify ownership of the land. Joshua needed to learn what so many of us need to rediscover: The land nor the battle was ever his. Victory belonged to the Lord.

In our own zeal—in ministry, in church life, in the busyness of raising a family—we often forget the same truth. We may become excellent at doing church while unintentionally losing sight of the God we worship. And when the order of the home is neglected, the next generation suffers. That’s precisely what happened after Joshua: homes stopped telling the story. Parents stopped teaching their children at the table, on the road, in everyday life. And a generation rose up that neither knew the Lord nor worshiped Him.

Today, we face a similar battle. The enemy is waging an all-out assault against homes,
marriages, and families. And if we don’t wake up and guard our homes with intentionality, we could see a generation that knows church—but doesn’t know the Lord!