Yesterday’s entry for Our Daily Bread struck me with the reminder that each of us needs to be careful about our own relationship with the Lord, and not rely on someone else’s faith and strength of conviction. ~ TD
Rooted
by Cindy Hess Kasper
“Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”
— 2 Chronicles 24:2
Joash must have been confused and frightened when he was told about the evil deeds of his grandmother Athaliah. She had murdered his brothers to usurp the power of the throne in Judah. But baby Joash had been safely hidden away by his aunt and uncle for 6 years (2 Chron. 22:10-12). As he grew, he enjoyed the love and instruction of his caregivers. When Joash was only 7 years old, he was secretly crowned king and his grandmother was overthrown (23:12-15).
Young King Joash had a wise counselor by his side—his very own Uncle Jehoiada (chs. 22–25). Joash was one of the rare “good kings” of Judah, and while his uncle was alive he obeyed the Lord by doing right (24:2). But once his uncle was no longer there to teach and lead by example, Joash fell away and his life ended badly (24:15-25). It seems that the roots of his faith did not run very deep. He even began to worship idols. Perhaps Joash’s “faith” had been more his uncle’s than his own.
Others can teach us the principles of their faith, but each of us must come individually to a lasting and personal faith in Christ. For faith to be real, it must become our own. God will help us walk with Him and become rooted and established in the faith (Col. 2:6-7).
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee. —Crosby
The faith that continues to the end gives proof that it was genuine in the beginning.
Our Daly Bread can be seen here: http://odb.org/2014/09/20/rooted/
Peace
