Freed! to follow. ~ David McGee

2 Kings 22:1-2

"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." NKJV

Life Lesson

Christianity offers you the power to make a free choice.

Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh, and his father, Amon, were two of the worst kings of Judah. They killed prophets, sacrificed their children, and rebuilt places of idol worship - even placing them in the house of the Lord. Josiah chose to do differently. He chose to walk in the ways of the Lord. That is just it, friend. We get to choose. People will say that you are doomed to follow in the sins of your father. Josiah proves that is not the case. You may be predisposed to those sins, but you get to make the choice. Maybe you watched your father get drunk every day of his life - that does not mean you have to. Even when you choose not to walk in the sins of your mother or father, you will still have to deal with it just as Josiah did. You will have to make the decision of whether you follow or choose something better.

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." NKJV

Maybe your father followed Jesus and lived his life for the Lord. If so, what an awesome privilege; those are great footsteps to follow. For others, their childhood was full of parental failures and disappointments. The trail blazed was bleak. Be encouraged. You may face the temptation my friend, but God has provided the means by which you can overcome and choose a better way. It would have been easier for Josiah to continue in the way that was paved by his father and grandfather; instead, he chose a better path. What path will you choose?

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me even in my failures. Thank You for forgiving me. Help me to make wise decisions by looking to Your Word to receive Your counsel and instruction. In Jesus' name, Amen.