A Man Like Josiah

March 11, 2014 · A Man Like Josiah Is your heart soft like King Josiah's heart was? Josiah was eight years old when he became King of Judah. His grandfather Manasseh was the most evil king that Israel had ever had. Josiah's father, Amon, was also so evil that his own servants conspired together and actually killed him. I wonder if Josiah was such a good and humble king because he decided in his heart to try to change his family tree? Even before Josiah found the lost book (part of the bible), he was said to be a great king who walked with God. When he was 26, his scribe found the lost book. And from there, Josiah became an even greater King (2 Kings 22 and 23). Unfortunately, his son was evil and did not follow God. The moral of this story is this: You can have a horrible upbringing, yet still be a man like Josiah. There may be many mistakes your father and mother made, but you have no excuse if you walk in their ways. Personal integrity, honor, loyalty, and following God is YOUR choice and your decision. Josiah DECIDED not to be like his fathers. You can do this, too. Just because you did something, doesn't mean your son will do it. Just because you walk with God, doesn't mean your son will. You have to choose. Your son must choose. You are accountable to God for your own life. Fortunately, we have a God who saves, redeems, forgives, and changes mans' hearts (I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 HCSB) (But what does it say? "T he word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart "-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "W hoever believes in H im will not be disappointed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "W hoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:8-13 NASB) Will you choose today, to follow God as Josiah did??? Will you ask God to forgive you and ask him to come into your life and change you? Will you learn more about him, so you can walk in integrity and honor? God is waiting for you to give him your heart. Right now you have idols in your heart just like Israel had physical man made idols. You worship power, sex, money, acceptance, comfort, food, etc. Are these things really getting you what you really want? Did you know there is an empty space in your heart that is God-shaped? Think of God being like a puzzle piece. Only one piece can fit in this space in your heart. Only God can satisfy. He will complete your life. Will you follow him?? This is what God had to say about Josiah: "Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. (2 Kings 23:25 NASB)" Without God you will never be the man or woman you could be....the father or mother you could be....the wife or husband you could be....