MAKE IT PERSONAL

MAKE IT PERSONAL

READ:

2 Chronicles 24:1-2, 15-22

Walk in the Spirit, and you

shall not fulfill the lust of

the flesh.  –Galatians 5:16

During my days as a teacher and coach at a Christian high school, I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with teenagers, trying to guide them to a purposeful, Christ-like life-characterized by love for God and love for others.  My goal was to prepare them to live for God throughout life.  That would happen only as they made their faith a vital part of life through the help of the Holy Spirit.  Those who didn’t follow Christ floundered after they left the influence of Christian teachers and parents.

This is demonstrated in the story of King Joash of Judah and his uncle Jehoiada.  Jehoiada, a wise counselor, influenced Joash to live a god-honoring life (2 Chronicles 24:11, 14).

The problem was that Joash did not embrace an honorable life as his own.  After Jehoiada died, King Joash “left the house of the LORD” (v.18) and began to worship0 in a pagan way.  He turned and became so evil that he had Jehoiada’s son murdered (vv.20-22).

Having someone in our lives to guide us toward faith and Christ-likeness can be good and helpful.  Even better is getting to know the Lord ourselves and learning to rely on the Holy Spirit to be our guide (Galatians 5:16).  That is making our faith personal. –Dave Branon

Lord, thank You for the people in my life who

influence me toward following You.  Help

me not to depend on them primarily-but to

depend on Your Holy Spirit to guide me.

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The faith of others encourages

A faith or our own transforms.

INSIGHT

Joash was the youngest king to reign in Jerusalem.  Because he was 7 years old when his reign began, he was in special need of guidance.  In the New Testament, Paul highlights the importance of mentors when he says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Have a blessed day and week ahead.

God Our Creator’s Love Always

Unity & Peace