Free to be Different

He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:2 (New American Standard Bible)

As I read through the books of Kings I am struck by the ones who do evil in the sight of the Lord and the ones who do right in the sight of the Lord. As soon as I come to the name of a new king my eyes skip ahead to see which it will be in each case. Very seldom do I notice two kings in a row doing right in the sight of the Lord. There will usually be a number of kings doing evil and then like a ray of sunshine a king comes on the scene with the distinction of doing right. What delight to see it!

Although Josiah’s father and grandfather did evil during their reigns, Josiah did not follow suite. At the young age of eight he not only took the throne, he lived his life distinctly different from those who came before him. His life was defined by three profound principles: he did right in the sight of the Lord, walked in all the ways of his ancestor King David, and stayed the course God had put him on. He had found that what really matters in life is to live within the parameters of what God desires of us, to follow the examples of the godly people who walked before us, and to stay focused on God’s path for our life.

For those of us who came from less than ideal home lives, Josiah becomes our older brother who reminds us that our families need not define us. There may be a long line of family traits that appear to not want to let go of us but God can rewrite ANY story. I did not grow up in a Christian home but God curtailed the direction of my life’s path when at the age of fourteen I accepted Christ and became God’s daughter. By the grace of God I was spared the very things that had come to mark my family: alcoholism, divorce, drug abuse, and immorality. There is no question in my mind that my life would look very different if God had not intervened. It not only benefited me but it broke the chain of generational bents for my children as well.

Father, thank you for forming me in my mother’s womb and then redirecting the steps of my life. In Your hands ANYTHING can be restored, renewed, and redeemed! Amen.

All Who Are Thirsty - Robin Mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrnvSf2dX18&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.