Like His Father

​Meditation
1 Kings 15:11—Asa did what was right in the LORD’s eyes, as his ancestor David had done.
22:42,43—Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king; he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.  He walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the LORD’s sight.  However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
 

In a span of about 416 years, King David and his 19 descendants ruled Judah until she was destroyed by Babylon.  In that period there are few occasions where a king and his son both served God.  King David wholeheartedly worshiped God but his son, Solomon, turned away from the Lord later in life.  King Joash and his son Amaziah and grandson Uzziah and great-grandson Jotham each started strong for God but only Jotham finished well.  King Asa and his son Jehoshaphat appear to have the strongest continued legacy in loving the Lord. 

My suspicion is that eleven of the 19 kings were corrupt because their fathers focused on ruling at the expense of investing.  David loved God but the Bible does not show that he spiritually trained his children. Twice he turned a blind eye to his own sons committing rape and murder and failed to discipline them.  It does not appear that Judah’s leaders took seriously Moses’ admonitions in Deuteronomy 6 to spiritually train their children.  They set the tone for their nation.

The importance of a godly father is monumental.  Jehoshaphat wanted to be like his father. “Asa was wholehearted his entire life” (2 Chronicles 15:17b). Asa, wanted to be like his great-great grandfather David.  It is a shame that this legacy did not continue.  When Jehoshaphatdied, his thirty-two year old son and successor Jehoram, was evil undoing all the reforms and successes of his father.  What went wrong?  The Bible is silent about the parental habits of kings.

Until he died, my grandfather faithfully prayed for his offspring.  In turn, early, every morning, my dad reads his Bible, writes in his journal, drinks coffee and specifically prays for everyone in our family.  I am who I am today because of his example and investment in me.  It is my responsibility, joy and privilege to love God and to kneel before Him each day on behalf of my children, grandchildren, siblings and their children.  I am intentionally investing in my grandchildren to reinforce the great example of their parents.  Uncle Ralph shared with me, “We get so caught up in the demands of the job that we forget the needs of the family. If you succeed with your family you succeed!”  

If you are a dad, your greatest contribution to your children is not your work, the money you bring home, the possessions you amass, or the recognition or status you obtain.  Your greatest gift is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and invest through time and energy training your children to do the same!  The decision to pursue or abandon God is theirs but the investment is yours to make.  Following after God ushers blessing into everything you do and helps solidify a family legacy—see Psalm 112:1-3 and 128:1-4.
 
 Inspiration
Each day, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. Let us strive to make the finest investment we can.—Charles Swindoll
 
©2015 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)