2 Chronicles 34:1 (NLT)
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
2 Chronicles 34:3 (NLT)
During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.
2 Chronicles 35:18 (NLT)
Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover. None of the kings of Israel had ever kept a Passover as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and people from all over Judah and Israel.
As I read this story in the Bible, I was immediately drawn to the age Josiah became king. He was 8 years old! I couldn’t imagine driving a car (or chariot...) at 8 years old. It was hard for me to do my homework at that age, much less be a king. What an awesome responsibility for God to entrust in someone! As I thought about it more, I began to think about my life and the lives of others. How does He want to use me/us, and am I limiting His ability to use me by either lack of faith or lack of obedience? I love this story because it is an awesome example of how God uses everyday people (young and old) to do His will and fulfill His plans.
I believe God’s desire to use us far exceeds our willingness to allow Him. Josiah, David, Daniel, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, and the countless other men and women of the Bible aren’t any different than we are. They were flesh, blood, human, and sinners, every one of them saved by His grace! God was and is the same God that He always has been. So the question is why can’t we be the Joshuas, Daniels, Josiahs, Ruths and Davids of today? I believe we can! In fact, I am convinced He wants us to be! My prayer is that this generation will be the one that stands up and allows God to use us to turn our nation around and lead it back to Him, just as God used Josiah to lead the Israelites back to Him. Nothing is impossible with God!
Father,
Help us to become the warriors that You created us to be, warriors with a servant’s heart! Help us become child-like in our faith to not only believe, but to also know that You can do anything through us. I pray that You bless us with the opportunity to lead and serve in a way that is physically impossible so that others will know it could have only come from You. We love You, praise You, and thank You for it! Amen.
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
2 Chronicles 34:3 (NLT)
During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.
2 Chronicles 35:18 (NLT)
Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover. None of the kings of Israel had ever kept a Passover as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and people from all over Judah and Israel.
As I read this story in the Bible, I was immediately drawn to the age Josiah became king. He was 8 years old! I couldn’t imagine driving a car (or chariot...) at 8 years old. It was hard for me to do my homework at that age, much less be a king. What an awesome responsibility for God to entrust in someone! As I thought about it more, I began to think about my life and the lives of others. How does He want to use me/us, and am I limiting His ability to use me by either lack of faith or lack of obedience? I love this story because it is an awesome example of how God uses everyday people (young and old) to do His will and fulfill His plans.
I believe God’s desire to use us far exceeds our willingness to allow Him. Josiah, David, Daniel, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, and the countless other men and women of the Bible aren’t any different than we are. They were flesh, blood, human, and sinners, every one of them saved by His grace! God was and is the same God that He always has been. So the question is why can’t we be the Joshuas, Daniels, Josiahs, Ruths and Davids of today? I believe we can! In fact, I am convinced He wants us to be! My prayer is that this generation will be the one that stands up and allows God to use us to turn our nation around and lead it back to Him, just as God used Josiah to lead the Israelites back to Him. Nothing is impossible with God!
Father,
Help us to become the warriors that You created us to be, warriors with a servant’s heart! Help us become child-like in our faith to not only believe, but to also know that You can do anything through us. I pray that You bless us with the opportunity to lead and serve in a way that is physically impossible so that others will know it could have only come from You. We love You, praise You, and thank You for it! Amen.