2 Kings 23:25 “Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.”

LEGACY

You really need to read 2 Kings 23:1-24 to get a clear picture of all that Josiah did as king.  He cleaned house!  He didn’t just clean house in Judah.  He even went into Israel, who had been carried into exile, and cleaned out the evil altars and high places.  He re-established the worship of Jehovah God throughout the country.  He even held the first Passover that had been celebrated for decades.

Josiah was intent in being obedient to the Lord.  And he was known as a king “who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might.”  Don’t you want to be known like that?  Better yet, don’t you want your children to see you like that?

TEACHING MOMENT

Our duty as parents is bring up our children in the Lord.  We can only do that by honoring Him ourselves.  That requires us to surrender all to Him.  You can’t hold anything back.  It all belongs to Him.  You have to turn to the Lord with all your heart, soul and might.  By doing so, your children will see that and will be led to do the same.

However, living sold out to Jesus is no guarantee your children will.  As good as Josiah was, his son did evil when he became king and his grandson did too.  Still, we must pour into them the love of Christ and teach them His commandments.  Only the Holy Spirit can draw them.  It is important that you be obedient.  Give them to Him.

Are there some “high places” or “altars” you need to tear down today?  What are you worshipping that does not give glory to the Lord.  We all have those things.  Some are just more visible than others.  Perhaps you have been so involved with them for so long that you can’t see them.  Ask your spouse or best friend to tell you if they see your “high places.”  But be prepared to hear what they say.

Tear them down!  Raze them to the ground!  Grind them up and scatter them.  Then bow to the only true God and worship Him with all that you have. He will honor that and bless you!

Father God, the same God who taught and led Josiah, give me the compassion and hunger for You that Josiah had.  Give me the courage to tear down my “altars” and bow only to You.